TZUTC: -0500   
   MSGID: 1844.consprcy@1:2320/105 2da7f90f   
   PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0   
   BBSID: CAPCITY2   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   FORMAT: flowed   
   UK MPs target VPNs in latest Online Safety Act debate   
      
   Date:   
   Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:52:42 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   The debate around age verification and VPNs heats up as MPs confirm their   
   commitment to review the role these providers should have in preventing their   
   service from being misused to evade the law.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   MPs are considering whether VPN providers should be forced to implement age   
   verification measures to prevent children from bypassing the Online Safety    
   Act (OSA).   
      
   In a debate scheduled to discuss public opposition to the legislation, MPs   
   used the opportunity to argue for stricter rules on VPN use instead.    
      
   Many Brits have turned to the best VPN apps since mandatory age verification   
   was implemented in July.    
      
   While evidence suggests the majority of these are adults looking to protect   
   their online privacy, lawmakers are concerned children are using the software   
   to dodge restrictions designed to protect them.   
      
   "We will not hesitate to go further"   
      
   Peter Fortune, Conservative MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, asked the House:   
   "Does [the Minister] agree that, for the Online Safety Act to be successful,   
   the use of VPNs has to be examined further?"    
      
   Echoing Fortune's remarks, Labour MP Jim McMahon argued that VPN companies   
   should be responsible for preventing children from evading checks. "Why are   
   VPNs not in scope of the legislation to ensure that they are compliant with   
   the age verification measures?" he asked.    
      
   "Presumably, it is more difficult for the end website to know the origins of   
   the user if they have bypassed via a VPN. Surely the onus should be on the    
   VPN company to comply with the law," he added.    
      
   The UK's Minister for Digital Government and Data, Ian Murray, reassured   
   lawmakers that the government is already acting. As previously reported by   
   TechRadar, Ofcom is currently monitoring VPN use to assess how these tools    
   are being used.    
      
   "We will not hesitate to go further if necessary," said Murray.    
      
   It's unclear what further interventions might look like, though the debate   
   offered some hints. According to Julia Lopez, Conservative MP for Hornchurch   
   and Upminster, the government should consider "whether age-gating should be   
   applied more comprehensively, including to VPN use or via app stores or at    
   the device level to close those loopholes."    
      
   This follows a move by UK Lords last week to table an amendment to the   
   Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would ban VPNs for children . The   
   proposal calls for VPN firms to verify the age of all UK users  a move that   
   Winscribe CEO called the "dumbest fix."    
      
   While we wait to see how the debate develops, these comments signal    
   lawmakers' increasing willingness to regulate security tools intended to    
   boost online privacy for millions of Brits  adults and children alike.    
      
   We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.    
   For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms   
   and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and   
   strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone   
   using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming   
   pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future   
   Publishing.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/uk-mps-target-vpns-in-lates   
   t-online-safety-act-debate   
      
   $$   
   --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux   
    * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)   
   SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700   
   SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 134 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 470   
   SEEN-BY: 229/664 700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45   
   SEEN-BY: 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35   
   PATH: 2320/105 229/426