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Subj : UK U-turns on age-gating VPNs
To : All
From : Mike Powell
Date : Thu Jul 16 2026 09:38 am
'We decided not to limit VPNs': UK government U-turns on age-gating privacy
tools
Date:
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:24:13 +0000
Description:
The UK government has confirmed it will not restrict VPN access as part of
its upcoming social media bans, prioritizing digital privacy while
introducing new curfews for 16- and 17-year-olds.
FULL STORY
The UK government has officially scrapped the idea of restricting virtual
private networks (VPNs) to enforce its impending social media bans,
delivering a massive victory for digital privacy advocates.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, the government confirmed a major U-turn on
the subject, with Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan stating: "We
decided not to limit VPNs." This was further cemented in a written
parliamentary statement by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who clarified
that the government will not age-gate or ban the best VPN software because
"VPNs have legitimate privacy and security uses."
The announcement ends fears that sweeping age verification laws could
inadvertently break online privacy for millions of adults.
Cybersecurity experts and privacy groups previously warned that restricting
these tools would be a disaster waiting to happen , prompting an open letter
from the industry urging lawmakers to leave everyday privacy tools alone.
While VPNs are safe from a blanket government ban, the social media ban
loophole hasn't been completely ignored.
Kendall confirmed the onus will now fall on social media platforms "to take
robust steps to detect and prevent attempts by underage users to circumvent
age assurance measures."
To achieve this, the government has tasked Ofcom and the Information
Commissioners Office (ICO) to report by October on how platforms can better
detect and prevent VPN use for age-check circumvention. The government also
plans to engage directly with VPN providers regarding voluntary actions.
This shift in responsibility aligns with newly released government research.
A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) report revealed
that while 26% of 11- to 17-year-olds use a VPN, findings show they do so
primarily for privacy .
Only 7-10% use them to bypass age checks, whereas 45% simply enter a false
date of birth. Midnight curfews and AI limits While everyday privacy tools
have been spared, the government is pressing forward with strict new rules to
combat digital addiction that online commentators already deemed "
ineffective and useless " with the first regulations coming into effect in
early 2027.
Following the upcoming blanket ban on social media for under-16s, new
measures will ensure 16- and 17-year-olds don't face a sudden "cliff edge" of
addictive features. Government consultation revealed that nearly one in three
children actively want help managing their screen time.
Under the new rules, older teens will face default social media curfews from
midnight to 6 am. Additionally, persuasive features like autoplaying videos
and personalized infinite feeds will be switched off by default to make
logging off easier.
"This is about giving these older children more choice and control over the
feeds and reducing that sense that they can never switch off being online,"
Kendall stated .
The protections also extend to artificial intelligence.
The government will require mandatory breaks for under-18s using AI chatbots
to prevent emotional dependency. Furthermore, lawmakers are working with
health regulators, including the MHRA and DHSC, to consider banning therapy
chatbots entirely if they provide dangerous or unverified mental health
advice to minors.
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/we-decided-not-to-limit-vpn
s-uk-government-u-turns-on-age-gating-privacy-tools
$$
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