UK government may 'age restrict or limit children’s VPN use' following three-month consultation

• UK government says VPNs may be age-restricted following three-month consultation
• New powers will grant ministers the authority to implement rules more quickly
• It remains unclear how VPN providers would technically enforce age checks

Update: This article was updated on 16 February at 17:20 GMT to include an exclusive response from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The UK government has confirmed it may "age restrict or limit children’s VPN use" if the tools are found to undermine online safety protections.

In a press release published yesterday, the government vowed to "close loopholes that put children at risk" by introducing powers to implement internet safety measures more quickly following its three-month consultation.

While much of the focus remains on social media, the explicit mention of VPNs suggests restrictions on the privacy tools is increasingly likely.

Ministers are expected to table an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that will grant them the authority to "act at speed." Any significant measures – such as enforcing age-verification for VPN providers – will still face a final vote in Parliament before becoming law.

Critics sound the alarm

Before the government's latest intervention, the House of Lords had already signaled its intent to restrict access to the privacy tools. Peers passed an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would force VPN providers to introduce "highly effective" age assurance measures.

However, this amendment is expected to be overturned in the House of Commons in favor of the government's three-month consultation.

VPN restrictions remain a point of contention among politicians. Speaking to TechRadar last month, Labour’s Lord Knight of Weymouth – who opposed the Lords’ amendment – suggested that while the rhetoric is sharp, few politicians would be willing to "die in a ditch" over a VPN ban.

The proposal has already drawn fire from a number of prominent figures. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said it was "an embarrassment," while digital rights organizations have warned that mandatory age checks could put "vulnerable people in immediate danger."

The UK-based civil liberties group Big Brother Watch has called the plans a "draconian crackdown" and argued that forcing all VPN users to undergo age assurance measures "defeats the point of a technology designed to enhance privacy online."

The government's defense

Responding to concerns raised by privacy advocates, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) told TechRadar:

"We recognize that VPNs serve legitimate purposes, including protecting privacy and security online. That's precisely why we're consulting to make sure we get this right – we want to hear from all stakeholders, including VPN providers and digital rights organizations, about how any measures can be targeted and proportionate."

The department emphasized that the goal is to "ensure children have a healthy experience online" and will adopt "the best approach based on the latest evidence." "The consultation will allow us to fully consider both the risks and the benefits of these technologies for children," the spokesperson concluded.

What's next?

In yesterday's press release, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that ministers are already consulting with parents and civil society groups. According to Kendall, the message from families has been "consistent and clear" regarding the need for immediate action

Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, saying the government was "closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action."

Despite the government’s push for change, there appears to be a communication gap with the technology providers.

Last month, TechRadar spoke with representatives from NordVPN, Surfshark, Windscribe, and ExpressVPN. They all confirmed that they were open to dialogue with the government. However, none of these major companies had been contacted by the government regarding the proposed restrictions at the time of the initial announcement.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to provide further details on these measures this week, marking the start of a process that could fundamentally reshape how VPNs are accessed in the UK.

We will continue to update this page as more details regarding the consultation and its impact on VPN access emerge.