UK government explores age-gating VPNs as part of under-16 social media ban
Original: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'
Why This Matters
VPN regulation could significantly impact online safety policy and privacy protections for children in the UK digital regulatory framework.
The UK Labour government will announce VPN regulation details in July alongside its under-16 social media ban. Children's minister Josh MacAlister said age-gating VPNs is being considered, while technology secretary Liz Kendall stated the government has commissioned research on VPN restrictions for children.
The UK government is considering age-gating virtual private networks (VPNs) as part of its planned ban on social media use for under-16s, with detailed policy announcements expected in July. Children's minister Josh MacAlister told the BBC that age-gating VPN use would be welcome, though the government has not yet committed to regulating them. Technology secretary Liz Kendall confirmed Parliament will receive a statement on VPN policy in July, noting there are divided opinions on the issue—some prioritize privacy protections while others want restrictions to prevent children circumventing the social media ban. Ofcom advised the government that more work is needed to understand the effectiveness and accessibility of different age-verification methods, as well as privacy considerations. Baroness Liz Lloyd stated there is limited evidence on children's VPN use and the government has no current plans for an outright ban. However, the government launched a broader consultation examining restrictions on children's AI chatbot use and options to age-restrict VPN access where it undermines safety protections. Search data from IT-AMG showed increased Google searches about bypassing the social media ban within hours of its announcement. Technology secretary Kendall also emphasized the need to strengthen Ofcom's enforcement powers against companies breaking online safety rules.