Lawmakers in the United States and the United Kingdom are moving to restrict VPN use under the guise of protecting children from harmful online content. These proposals, including bills in Wisconsin and Michigan, go beyond simply blocking access to adult sites – they target VPNs themselves, potentially putting millions of citizens at risk of surveillance and data breaches. The rationale: VPNs allow users to bypass newly enacted age verification laws, which require identification to access restricted content.
The growing use of VPNs is a direct response to these restrictions, but the situation is not without its own dangers. A surge in demand has created a breeding ground for malicious VPN apps, many of which contain malware, log user activity, or steal personal data. Google itself has issued warnings about these threats, highlighting how free VPNs can deliver “dangerous malware payloads” like info-stealers and banking trojans.
The Legislative Crackdown: From Age Verification to VPN Bans
Wisconsin’s Senate Bill 130 proposes forcing websites to use “reasonable age verification methods” and block traffic from known VPN IP addresses. Michigan’s House Bill 4938 goes further, proposing an outright ban on VPNs and online adult content. This “Anticorruption of Public Morals Act” would empower internet service providers to “actively monitor and block” circumvention tools, with penalties including up to 25 years in prison and $500,000 fines.
Requiring ISPs to enforce content laws is problematic, as demonstrated by issues faced by Starlink users. The laws are not simply about blocking content; they are about controlling access and potentially eroding digital anonymity.
The Real Privacy Risk: Age Verification and Data Breaches
Age verification itself is a major privacy concern. Millions of users are uploading sensitive personal information – including ID photos, birthdates, and addresses – to access online content. This data is a prime target for hackers. Recent breaches at ID verification providers like AU10TIX and Tea app have exposed tens of thousands of user-submitted images, including identification documents. These leaks can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other serious consequences.
The incentive for cybercriminals is clear: age verification companies now hold a wealth of valuable personal data. The more prevalent these systems become, the more attractive they become to attackers.
How VPNs Work, and Why They Matter
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a different location, masking your IP address. This allows users to bypass geo-restrictions, censorship, and now, age verification laws. It’s a critical tool for activists, journalists, and anyone seeking privacy in an increasingly surveilled world.
While VPNs can’t prevent data breaches, they do protect your activity from being monitored by ISPs and other snoopers. Banning them would disproportionately harm those who rely on them for legitimate purposes.
ISPs vs. VPNs: The Arms Race
Websites and ISPs can block VPNs using methods like IP address blacklisting, port blocking, and deep packet inspection. However, quality VPNs employ obfuscation features to disguise their traffic as normal internet activity. Providers like Proton VPN and NordVPN offer protocols designed to evade these detection methods.
Google’s Warning: Beware of Free VPNs
The rise in VPN use has coincided with a surge in malicious apps. Google warns that threat actors are distributing fake VPNs loaded with malware, including info-stealers and banking trojans. The best defense is to download apps only from official sources, enable Google Play Protect, and exercise caution when choosing a VPN.
Free VPNs are particularly risky, as many monetize by selling user data or infecting devices with malware. If using a free option, Proton VPN’s free tier is the most reliable choice, as it offers the same privacy protections as its paid version without bandwidth limits.
In conclusion, the crackdown on VPNs is not just about regulating access to adult content. It’s a move that threatens digital privacy, fuels cybercrime, and creates new risks for millions of internet users. The proposed laws are likely to drive more people towards unsafe VPN options, putting their data at greater risk than before.
