Michigan goes crazy with proposed VPN ban under adult content law
14th September 2025
Michigan is making headlines, and not for the right reasons. Lawmakers have introduced the so-called “Anticorruption of Public Morals Act,” a sweeping proposal that would ban VPNs, proxies, and other tools used to bypass internet filters. If passed, it would force ISPs to block these tools outright and fine anyone caught “facilitating access” to restricted content, to the tune of up to $500,000 per violation. That’s not just a nudge toward online censorship; that’s a full-on sprint. The stated aim of the bill is to stop the distribution of adult content, including everything from videos and magazines to AI-generated material, manga, and even depictions of transgender people. But instead of focusing on protecting minors (as similar laws in other states have done), this proposal goes much further, attempting to ban the material for everyone, regardless of age. Worse, it explicitly targets the tools people use to stay private online. If you rely on a VPN to protect your data, watch international streaming services, or simply secure your public Wi-Fi connections, Michigan’s lawmakers just put a bullseye on your back. This isn’t just about adult content, it’s about control. By banning VPNs, Michigan would undermine one of the most important privacy tools available today, leaving millions more exposed to surveillance, hackers, and ever-growing data collection. Cybersecurity experts have warned that this sets a dangerous precedent, putting the state in the same conversation as Russia, China, and Myanmar, countries that already crack down on VPNs to control what citizens can see online. For most people, a VPN isn’t about dodging the law, it’s about keeping your online life safe. In an age of mass data harvesting and constant security breaches, encrypting your traffic is just common sense. The fact that Michigan is targeting these tools at all should be alarming. The internet has always been a place where people can think, speak, and explore freely, and taking away VPNs would take away one of the last ways to do so safely.
