Labour government has no plans for VPN ban
20th August 2025
The UK government has finally shut down rumours of a possible VPN ban, at least for now. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed that ministers are not considering outlawing VPNs, despite reports that the Online Safety Act had put thousands of households at risk of losing their favourite privacy tool. Speaking on Times Radio, Kyle said that while some people will inevitably use VPNs to dodge the new age-verification rules, most are adults simply wanting to protect their privacy, and that’s not something the government plans to police. Kyle framed the Online Safety Act as a landmark for protecting children online, describing it as “the biggest step forward in safety since the invention of the internet.” He urged adults to “get behind” the age-verification system, arguing that every ID check helps keep kids safe. What he didn't mention however, are the risks of data breaches with age verification systems. Ofcom has been clear that VPN use isn’t illegal under the Act and, as CEO Melanie Dawes admitted to MPs, “a very concerted 17-year-old” will likely still be able to sneak through the system with one. Critics of the law say this proves the Online Safety Act has a big blind spot. VPNs are simply too widespread and too useful to ban without causing chaos — they’re the go-to tool for journalists, businesses, and ordinary people who just want to stop their ISPs from snooping. Cybersecurity experts have reminded users that VPNs aren’t magic invisibility cloaks, you still need to pick a trustworthy provider. Paid VPNs like Proton and Nord are generally considered safe bets, but some free VPNs have a history of shady practices like logging data and selling it to advertisers. So, the good news is VPNs aren’t going anywhere in the UK just yet. The bad news? The government is still keeping a watchful eye on how they’re being used, and isn’t ruling out cracking down harder if it thinks they’re undermining the Online Safety Act. For now, though, privacy-minded Brits can keep browsing securely and skip the idea of hiding their VPN icon.
