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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

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