CybserSecurity News

Tag: AgeVerification

  • Privacy War: Wisconsin Bill Mandates VPN Blocking to Enforce Age Verification

    In several U.S. states, lawmakers are discussing new restrictions that could fundamentally reshape the long-standing norms of online privacy. Legislators in Wisconsin and Michigan are considering initiatives aimed at combating material deemed harmful to minors. Their attention is focused on adult-content websites as well as platforms where hate speech and other undesirable information may appear. Increasingly, these debates invoke the argument that protecting children requires not only age-based filters but also stricter control over the tools people use to access the internet.

    Among these tools are VPN services. Against this backdrop, Wisconsin has introduced a bill requiring websites with explicit material not only to implement robust age-verification systems but also to block all users attempting to access the site through a VPN. The bill has already passed the lower chamber and is advancing through the Senate. If enacted, Wisconsin would become the first state in the U.S. to prohibit the use of VPNs for accessing such content.

    Michigan is considering a proposal driven by similar logic, though the envisioned measures are even more severe. Internet providers could be tasked with detecting and blocking VPN connections at the network level. However, this bill remains stalled at an early stage and has yet to progress through the legislative process.

    The Electronic Frontier Foundation has sharply criticized these initiatives. Representatives of the organization argue that restricting such services under the guise of child safety effectively forces people to surrender their privacy in exchange for access to lawful content. According to digital-rights advocates, these measures would impact everyone—from employees and students to journalists and individuals simply wishing to protect their personal data. The organization stresses that age-verification systems themselves create risk: they function poorly, require the transmission of sensitive information, and are easily bypassed, ultimately causing more harm than good.

    Instead of imposing prohibitions, the EFF urges policymakers to focus on more constructive solutions: educating children about safe online behavior, improving parental-control tools, and addressing the root causes of online threats. In the organization’s view, eroding privacy and blocking technologies that safeguard vulnerable groups—including journalists, activists, and individuals facing harassment—will not meaningfully enhance the protection of minors.

  • VPN Boom & Ban Threat: Subscriptions Soar 1,400% as US/UK Eye Restrictions

    Hundreds of millions of smartphone users have found themselves facing blocks on adult websites and mandatory age verification requirements. In the United Kingdom, identity checks on adult sites have become compulsory, while several U.S. states are introducing similar laws. In response, the installation of VPN services—tools that conceal a user’s true location and bypass such restrictions—has surged dramatically.

    According to the BBC, registrations for Proton VPN soared by more than 1,400% following the implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act, while NordVPN reported a 1,000% increase in new subscriptions. Data from TechRadar indicates that during the first half of 2025 alone, British users downloaded more than 10.7 million VPN applications.

    Now, UK authorities are reportedly debating the possibility of an outright VPN ban. Similar proposals have surfaced in the United States—most notably in Wisconsin, where a bill seeks to criminalize accessing “adult content” through VPNs. Parallel discussions are taking place in Michigan, where representatives from Proton have voiced strong opposition to such measures.

    Experts warn that these restrictions pose a serious threat to internet freedom. VPNs remain an essential lifeline in censored regions, granting people the ability to read independent news, access social networks, and communicate securely through messaging platforms.

    Meanwhile, Google has issued a new warning: cybercriminals are disguising malicious software as legitimate VPN applications. The company urges users to download VPNs exclusively from official sources and to scrutinize requested permissions—legitimate VPNs should never demand access to contacts or private messages.

    Google’s findings reveal that fake VPN apps often spread spyware capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and cryptocurrency wallets. The company reminds users that downloading free or dubious VPNs significantly increases the risk of device compromise and data leakage.

    Security experts caution that if governments proceed with VPN bans, users will inevitably turn to illegal or unverified alternatives, creating a “hacker’s paradise” and rendering Google’s safety recommendations impossible to follow.