EU research service warns VPNs bypass age-verification rules
Updated
Updated · CyberInsider · May 8
EU research service warns VPNs bypass age-verification rules
7 articles · Updated · CyberInsider · May 8
The EPRS said use rose after laws took effect in the UK and some US states, with Utah recently enacting legislation explicitly targeting VPN-assisted evasion.
It said current EU age checks are fragmented and easy to circumvent, while some policymakers want VPN access itself age-gated, a move privacy advocates say would weaken anonymity and increase surveillance risks.
The warning follows flaws found last month in the European Commission's age-verification app, as the EU weighs future cybersecurity and online-safety updates that could impose child-safety duties on VPN providers.
As laws target VPNs, is the era of anonymous internet browsing coming to an end?
Is sacrificing universal digital privacy the only way to protect children online?
Age Verification vs. VPNs: The EU’s Policy Dilemma and the Future of Digital Privacy
Overview
The European Union is working to strengthen online age-verification systems, but faces a major challenge from Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). VPNs are seen as a loophole because they let users bypass restrictions meant to protect minors, making it easy to avoid age checks and geographical blocks. A recent briefing from the European Parliamentary Research Service highlights this problem, warning that VPNs undermine these laws. However, the report admits there is no clear solution to stop VPN circumvention. This ongoing issue shows the difficulty of enforcing age verification online when VPNs provide such a simple workaround.