Plans for prohibiting VPN access for under-18s are being considered by the UK government as part of efforts to bolster online safety following the Online Safety Act. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the potential ban, aiming to prevent minors from bypassing new age restrictions implemented last year.

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The Online Safety Act introduced mandatory age checks for various online platforms, including adult content sites, dating services, and gaming accounts. In response, VPN usage surged as individuals sought to circumvent these restrictions. VPNs, while legal, allow users to disguise their location and access age-gated content.

The government is also contemplating measures to restrict children's use of online chatbots, following concerns about their misuse. Earlier this year, controversy arose around Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot, widely used on the social media platform X for creating fake images.

Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the need for legal updates to match rapid technological changes, ensuring children's online safety. He remarked, “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online. Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up.”

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall supported the initiative, highlighting the urgency for protective measures. “We will not wait to take the action families need,” she stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to acting swiftly.

The consultation will also consider banning social media access for children and restricting “infinite scrolling.” Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott criticized the proposal as insufficient, accusing the government of inaction regarding minors' access to social media.

This initiative aligns with the broader goal of protecting children’s wellbeing while navigating rapid technological advancements and addressing online safety challenges.

Key Takeaways

• UK considers banning VPNs for under-18s to enhance online protection.

• Measures respond to increased VPN use circumventing age restrictions.

• Government aims to update laws in line with technological progress.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 15 Feb 2026

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Just a little authority over the internet. It's for our own good!

The UK is looking to be worse than China. In China people can use approved VPNs.

Why not shut net off entirely instead of having a generation of airheads and addicted gamers?

It's possible on paper (via provider mandates/age checks), but technically impractical to stop determined minors (or adults helping them). It would create friction for compliant users while failing against tech-savvy ones.

Another crazy idea!

The PM is desperate to divert the public opinion and the media towards anything that can make the world forget the disastrous handling of the Epstein scandal by the UK PM. Even if that means to start a war with Russia and sending troops ...nothing better then a war, to keep any controversal leader in power. Be it in Israel or in Ukraine, Russia, some other European nation...they are all the same bunch of aXXhxxes.

It’s a technological game of “Whack-a-Mole”. Whatever some Whitehall mandarin comes up with a smart 12 year old will find a way round it.

Run, Run fast and far. Are these idiots bored and sit around thinking how much they can screw something up.

3 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the potential ban, aiming to prevent minors from bypassing new age restrictions implemented last year.

I wonder if he actually knows how a VPN works, or what "VPN" actually stands for?

The intentions are good. But the problem is technology is developing a lot faster than legislation.

4 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

potential ban, aiming to prevent minors from bypassing new age restrictions implemented last year.

The really smart thing to have done would have been to include VPN in the original legislation.🤔

No value posts removed.

If you dont make a valid comment and just post a video it will be removed.

15 minutes ago, stevenl said:

The intentions are good.

The intention is total control over every one, nothing to do with protecting children.

They will make government approved digital ID all but mandatory to access anything and everything, 'Safe and convenient'

just like the 'safe and effective's'

2 minutes ago, johng said:

The intention is total control over every one, nothing to do with protecting children.

They will make government approved digital ID all but mandatory to access anything and everything, 'Safe and convenient'

just like the 'safe and effective's'

Disagree with you.

Make Internet service providers criminally responsible for transmitting harmful content to minors, attach huge financial penalties.

That’ll get their attention.

36 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Make Internet service providers criminally responsible

so you want some busy body reading everything you post on the internet to make sure it doesn't offend someone, remove that content and then punish you for having those bad thoughts in the first place...sounds like a great idea !

if you want to live in a dystopian nightmare.

1 minute ago, johng said:

so you want some busy body reading everything you post on the internet to make sure it doesn't offend someone, remove that content and then punish you for having those bad thoughts in the first place...sounds like a great idea !

if you want to live in a dystopian nightmare.

This is a UK topic.

If you are in the UK accessing and/or sharing illegal content be aware you have zero anonymity while doing so.

51 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Make Internet service providers criminally responsible for transmitting harmful content to minors, attach huge financial penalties.

That’ll get their attention.

No worries in USA where trump in exchange for a few billion in crytpo meme will make sure there are no regulations on anything.

5 hours ago, Sigmund said:

The PM is desperate to divert the public opinion and the media towards anything that can make the world forget the disastrous handling of the Epstein scandal by the UK PM. Even if that means to start a war with Russia and sending troops ...nothing better then a war, to keep any controversal leader in power. Be it in Israel or in Ukraine, Russia, some other European nation...they are all the same bunch of aXXhxxes.

You forgot the US, the biggest and least popular a-hole government on the planet right now.

Epstein seems to be Kryptonite for a lot of these high-powered guys, including big Don who is desperately trying to avoid any mention of his very close buddy and cohort.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Make Internet service providers criminally responsible for transmitting harmful content to minors, attach huge financial penalties.

That’ll get their attention.

That would be a bit like standing up to Big Pharma, it just doesn't seem to happen.

The one person standing up to big pharma is labeled a conspiracy theorist anti vax baby killer.

It does kinda tie in with the wish for ultimate control of the narrative with no opportunity for dissent not just in the UK or US but world wide.

What happened to Starmers promise of less government interference in people's lives?

Oh thats right another lie from the commie tyrant.

Plans for prohibiting VPN access for under-18s

Rather takes the steam out of the headline

49 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If you are in the UK accessing and/or sharing illegal content be aware you have zero anonymity while doing so.

Not just the UK but everywhere, privacy disappearing at an alarming rate...all for your safety and convenience of course.

Communists wanting the state to control and spy on everything.

Under 18s first. Let them accept that for the kids. Then everyone.

Revolting.

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Communists wanting the state to control and spy on everything.

Under 18s first. Let them accept that for the kids. Then everyone.

Revolting.

You are a drama queen!

The proposal is to limit VPN access for kids, much like existing laws regulates access to alcohol, cigarettes, vehicles, etc etc, the proposed legislation is to protect kids online.

21 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

Rather takes the steam out of the headline

How do they check if the person is over or under 18 ?

4 minutes ago, Stocky said:

the proposed legislation is to protect kids online.

Sorry but if you believe that you will believe anything !

46 minutes ago, johng said:

How do they check if the person is over or under 18 ?

I guess the government won't do it, they'll pressure the VPN providers to find solutions.....passports, drivers licence?

The onus will be on the individual to prove they are over 18......live face scans compared to ID's photos.

Yes the point is that to protect the 'children' everyone will be forced to

identify themselves..

anonymity,privacy and free speech will be dead.