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UK Government Proposes VPN Ban

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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300sd Gold Member

300sd

Advanced Member

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

TedG Ruby Member

TedG

Advanced Member

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

koolkarl Gold Member

koolkarl

Advanced Member

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

Smokey and the Bandit Gold Member

Smokey and the Bandit

Advanced Member

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!

Sigmund Gold Member

Sigmund

Advanced Member

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.

retayl Advanced Member

retayl

Member

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.

J Branche Gold Member

J Branche

Advanced Member

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

Watawattana Gold Member

Watawattana

Advanced Member
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?

stevenl Star Member

stevenl

Advanced Member

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

VocalNeal Star Member

VocalNeal

Advanced Member
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.🤔

CharlieH Star Member

CharlieH

Core Admin

No value posts removed.

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

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member
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'

stevenl Star Member

stevenl

Advanced Member
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.

Chomper Higgot Star Member

Chomper Higgot

Advanced Member

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

That’ll get their attention.

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member
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.

Chomper Higgot Star Member

Chomper Higgot

Advanced Member
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.

pomchop Ruby Member

pomchop

Advanced Member
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.

spidermike007 Star Member

spidermike007

Advanced Member
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.

spidermike007 Star Member

spidermike007

Advanced Member
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.

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member

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.

JonnyF Star Member

JonnyF

Advanced Member

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

Oh thats right another lie from the commie tyrant.

MIke B Bad Silver Member

MIke B Bad

Advanced Member

Plans for prohibiting VPN access for under-18s

Rather takes the steam out of the headline

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member
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.

JonnyF Star Member

JonnyF

Advanced Member

Communists wanting the state to control and spy on everything.

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

Revolting.

Stocky Ruby Member

Stocky

Advanced Member
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.

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member
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 ?

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, Stocky said:

the proposed legislation is to protect kids online.

Sorry but if you believe that you will believe anything !

MIke B Bad Silver Member

MIke B Bad

Advanced Member
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.

johng Star Member

johng

Advanced Member

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

identify themselves..

anonymity,privacy and free speech will be dead.

scottiejohn Star Member

scottiejohn

Advanced Member
56 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

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.

Giving this personal ID verification data online to some backroom website will be a godsend to the hackers an fraudsters!

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