In a major development on digital safety and children’s online freedoms, a cross-party group of politicians in the UK’s House of Lords has introduced an amendment that could lead to a ban on Virtual Private Network (VPN) use by children under 18. The move is part of ongoing efforts to build on the Online Safety Act’s age-verification framework, but it has sparked controversy among digital rights advocates and technology experts.
What the Proposal Entails
The proposed amendment, attached to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, would require the UK government to prohibit the provision of VPN services to UK children within 12 months of passage. Under the draft clause, “relevant VPN services” — defined as those offered or marketed to UK users — would need to implement “highly effective” age-assurance methods to ensure users are not under 18.
These age-verification methods could include rigorous identity checks such as government-issued ID scanning or biometric verification, though the official text leaves specifics to future regulations. Companies failing to comply could face enforcement actions.
This proposal is driven by concerns that VPNs — which mask users’ location and activity — are being used by some to circumvent legal age checks built into the Online Safety Act framework.
Context: Online Safety Act and Age Verification
The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 introduced robust measures requiring platforms to conduct age-verification before granting access to adult and other harmful content online. Since the rules took effect in July 2025, there’s been broad monitoring of online behaviour and compliance requirements for platforms.
Though the Act doesn’t currently ban VPNs, regulators such as Ofcom have begun tracking VPN usage as part of enforcement and digital safety evaluation. The regulator’s 2025 Online Nation report, for example, noted increased VPN use alongside general declines in some age-restricted content traffic.
Arguments in Support of the Ban
Proponents of the amendment argue that VPNs can undermine age-verification systems by enabling users to appear geographically outside the UK or hide age information. Given how VPNs work — masking IP addresses and encrypting traffic — authorities fear that without limits, children might still access harmful content despite new rules.
Some peers also cite security concerns around free VPN apps that may collect user data or lack robust protections, exposing young users to privacy risks. During a Lords online safety debate, peers argued that much of the VPN traffic among younger users involves such unverified apps.
Criticism and Opposition
Digital rights groups, including the Open Rights Group, have blasted the proposal as potentially “Orwellian” and poorly calibrated to actual use patterns. They point out that VPN adoption is widespread among adults for legitimate privacy and security reasons, and enforcing age checks on VPNs could jeopardize this beneficial use. (TechRadar)
Furthermore, recent research from Internet Matters and Childnet indicates that children’s VPN use has not risen significantly following age-verification rules, and the rise in overall VPN adoption appears driven largely by adult users. Most children who do use VPNs cite privacy or entertainment reasons rather than evasion of age checks. (
Technology experts also highlight enforcement challenges: a ban would require monitoring and verifying usage across countless devices and services, potentially leading to privacy invasions deeper than the issues the proposal seeks to solve. Critics argue that education and parental controls might be more effective for keeping minors safe online than stringent regulatory bans.
Where It Stands Now
Although the amendment has been tabled in the House of Lords, it does not yet have government backing and is not law. UK tech ministers have indicated there are currently no plans to ban VPNs outright, citing limited evidence of harmful use by under-18s and emphasising that legitimate privacy usage remains important. Still, officials have said “nothing is off the table” as they continue monitoring the effectiveness of online safety measures.
Conclusion
The proposal by UK Lords to ban children from using VPNs illustrates the ongoing tension between protecting young people online and preserving digital freedoms. While intended to reinforce age-verification systems within the Online Safety Act, it raises complex questions about privacy rights, enforcement feasibility, and unintended consequences for everyday internet users.
As the amendment works its way through Parliament, stakeholders from tech communities, privacy advocates, educators, and parents will be watching closely, debating not just VPN access but the future balance of online safety and personal freedom in the digital age.
