- MPs push to review VPN use
- This is part of a larger discussion about the challenges facing the Internet Safety Act.
- This comes just days after the UK Lords proposed banning VPNs for children.
MPs are considering whether VPN providers should be forced to implement age verification measures to prevent children from circumventing the Online Safety Act (OSA).
IN debates are planned to discuss public opposition On the legislation front, MPs took the opportunity to advocate for stricter VPN rules instead.
Many Britons turned to best VPN applications since then mandatory age verification was implemented in July.
Bye data suggests that most are adults seeking to protect their privacy online. Lawmakers are concerned that children are using software to circumvent restrictions designed to protect them.
“We won’t hesitate to move on.”
Peter Fortune, Conservative MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, asked the House: “Is it really [the Minister] Do you agree that further study of the use of VPNs is necessary for the success of the Internet Safety Act?”
Echoing Fortune's comments, Labor MP Jim McMahon said VPN companies should be held accountable for preventing children from evading checks. “Why aren’t VPNs subject to legislation to ensure they comply with age verification measures?” he asked.
“Presumably, it is more difficult for the end website to know the user's origin if they have bypassed the VPN. Of course, the responsibility for complying with the law should lie with the VPN company,” he added.
UK Digital Government and Data Minister Ian Murray assured lawmakers the government was already acting. As TechRadar previously reported, Ofcom is currently VPN usage monitoring evaluate how these tools are used.
“We will not hesitate to go further if necessary,” Murray said.
It is unclear what further interventions might look like, although some hints have been made during the debate. Julia Lopez, Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, said the government should consider “whether age controls should be applied more comprehensively, including to VPN use, through app stores or at a device level, to close these loopholes.”
This follows the British Lords' decision last week to introduce an amendment to the Children's Welfare and Schools Bill, which ban VPN for children. The proposal calls on VPN companies to check the age of all users in the UK – a move that Winscribe's CEO called it a “dumb decision.”
While we wait to see how the debate plays out, the comments signal a growing willingness among lawmakers to regulate security tools designed to improve online privacy for millions of Britons – adults and children alike.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal entertainment use. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and enhance your online privacy when you're abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. The use of paid pirated content is not condoned or endorsed by Future Publishing.
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