VPNs could be banned for children in the UK if new legislation gains approval, marking the government’s latest move to restrict minors’ access to online content deemed harmful.
The UK House of Lords voted on January 21 to allow an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would prohibit VPN usage for minors. The proposal would require VPN users to go through age verification, similar to requirements under the UK’s Online Safety Act for viewing content like pornography or material about eating disorders.
The amendment states that within 12 months of the act’s passage, regulations must be made “which prohibit the provision to UK children of a Relevant VPN Service.” This represents a significant expansion of the UK’s online safety framework, which has already seen major impacts on internet access.
Since the Online Safety Act took effect six months ago, VPN use has more than doubled in the UK as users seek ways to bypass age verification requirements. The new amendment aims to close this loophole entirely, creating what experts call “second-order censorship” – restrictions that follow after people find workarounds to initial regulations.
This approach mirrors similar efforts in the United States, where a proposed Michigan bill seeks to ban both pornography and VPNs. The UK’s move could set a precedent for other countries grappling with online child safety concerns.
The timing is significant given recent industry developments. Just days before the Lords vote, Pornhub announced that UK users who haven’t verified their age by February 2 will lose access to the site entirely. Representatives from Pornhub’s parent company Aylo cited widespread VPN use as evidence that the Online Safety Act isn’t working effectively.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill remains proposed legislation and must now go through “ping-pong” – the back-and-forth amendment process between the House of Commons and House of Lords. If passed, it would create one of the world’s most restrictive approaches to VPN access for minors.
The proposal raises complex questions about balancing child protection with digital rights and privacy. VPNs serve legitimate purposes beyond circumventing content restrictions, including:
- Protecting personal data on public WiFi networks
- Accessing educational content blocked by geographic restrictions
- Maintaining privacy from surveillance
- Protecting against cyber threats
Critics of expansive online safety measures warn that such restrictions could have unintended consequences for digital literacy and privacy education. The debate reflects broader tensions between government efforts to protect children online and concerns about creating an overly restrictive internet environment.
As the legislation moves forward, it will likely face scrutiny from privacy advocates, technology companies, and digital rights organizations who argue that blanket VPN restrictions could undermine legitimate uses of privacy tools while failing to address underlying issues around online safety education and parental controls.