After online age verification, a crackdown on VPNs may be on the horizon.
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How it started
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, have evolved far beyond their original purpose of enabling secure business communications. Initially designed in the 1990s to help companies send data safely between offices without the hefty costs of leased lines, VPNs now provide encrypted connections that shield your IP address and browsing habits. Early pioneers like Microsoft, AT&T, and Cisco laid the groundwork, but it was Francis Dinha and James Yonan who launched OpenVPN in 2001, offering a robust, open-source option for both businesses and everyday users.
The landscape shifted dramatically in 2013 when Edward Snowden leaked documents revealing extensive surveillance by the National Security Agency. This revelation heightened public awareness of online privacy risks, with a 2015 Pew Research survey indicating that 34% of Americans had taken steps to safeguard their online privacy. By 2016, that number had jumped to 86%, with many opting to clear cookies, encrypt emails, or use VPNs. The surge in streaming services and region-locked content further highlighted the advantages of VPNs, especially among torrent users.
While Snowden’s revelations ignited a privacy movement, the current wave of VPN adoption is fueled by a new challenge: the rise of age-restricted internet access.
How it’s going
Around the world, lawmakers are implementing online age verification measures in the name of protecting children. However, these regulations often compromise the privacy of all users and hinder open internet access. Requirements to upload identification, bank details, or even take video selfies to access online content risk exposing personal information and deanonymizing users.
In response, many are turning to VPNs to bypass these intrusive measures, allowing them to mask their location and appear as if they are accessing the internet from regions without such age verification requirements. For instance, searches for VPNs surged in Florida after the state mandated age verification for adult websites, and similar trends are emerging globally. In the UK, mobile VPN usage spiked following the introduction of age verification for adult sites and platforms like Reddit and Discord. Australia is also seeing increased VPN adoption after implementing age checks for social media and adult content.
What happens next
The future of VPNs faces significant challenges. In Michigan, a group of Republican representatives proposed a bill that would not only restrict VPN access but also ban adult content and require ISPs to filter a wide range of material, including depictions of transgender individuals. In Wisconsin, lawmakers initially included a VPN ban in their age verification bill but later removed it due to public backlash.
Internationally, regulators are also scrutinizing VPN usage. The UK Children’s Commissioner has labeled VPNs a “loophole that needs closing,” while Ofcom is monitoring their use. In France, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs has indicated that VPNs are a priority for future regulation following a ban on social media for children under 15.
Imposing restrictions on VPNs would jeopardize user privacy and security. Many individuals, including activists, journalists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, rely on VPNs for safety and secure communication. A VPN ban may not even be effective, as users would likely find ways around such restrictions, including creating private networks.
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, argues against banning VPNs, suggesting that such laws would align the US, UK, Australia, and others with authoritarian regimes that view VPN technology as a threat to their control.
Despite the incomplete nature of online age verification efforts, lawmakers are pressing ahead, raising concerns about the increasing threats to VPNs.
By the way
* Recently, lawmakers advanced a series of online safety bills that could introduce age verification at the app store level. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the package as a “smoke screen” for Big Tech interests.
* Apple is implementing age verification requirements in the App Store in response to laws in places like Brazil, Australia, Singapore, Utah, and Louisiana. (A recent age verification notice on iPhones in the UK was mistakenly issued.)
