VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate' • Hacker News Board

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#261

Post by mc32 » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:28 PM UTC

Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #89

In Russia, they claimed that new measures to block websites are necessary to protect the children online. Of course, they immediately used these new capabilities to block opposition websites and sources critical of the government. Now, seeing many European governments tirelessly push for these new measures to protect the children , I'm pretty sure that the children are finally going to be safe online.

Also the UK arrests people for online posts more than Russia, China or Belarus. It seems clear the gov wants to control all forms of speech and if they could control speech at home they would too further, I have little doubt if they could control your thoughts they would too. They’d be more than delighted to have people wear shock collars that shock wearers as they stray from received though patterns.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#262

Post by sandcat_ » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:29 PM UTC

2pEXgD0fZ5cF wrote: post #100

netfortius wrote: post #3

There are few things more exciting, in relationship to attempting to restrict access to (data) communications, than a government which thinks geeks won't find ways around such. Now sit back, relax, and let's wait for the next generation of encrypted channels solution development.

This isn't something that can be defeated like this. You are right, there will be ways around this. But we also have to be honest: being able to buy "off the shelf", two click VPN solution for 5$ already puts you into "geek" category. Relatively speaking. If they ban the commercial providers, payment processors will be the first to enforce it. And Google and Apple will throw the 1-Click solutions out of their app sto…

> being able to buy "off the shelf", two click VPN solution for 5$ already puts you into "geek" category

I’m not sure that’s true anymore. I discovered recently my 70 year old, very technology-averse, parents are using a VPN (much to my initial concern). I think it’s for viewing football matches, or so they can watch iPlayer when they travel. They’re advertised on buses, etc. They’re pretty common these days.

That said I think you’re right that a block at the App Store level etc is enough to cut usage significantly.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#263

Post by duxup » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:30 PM UTC

Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #89

In Russia, they claimed that new measures to block websites are necessary to protect the children online. Of course, they immediately used these new capabilities to block opposition websites and sources critical of the government. Now, seeing many European governments tirelessly push for these new measures to protect the children , I'm pretty sure that the children are finally going to be safe online.

All these children laws end up as putting the onus on the adult to expose themself to whomever.

It used to be "don't give your name to anyone online" and now it's "hand it over when you're told".

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#264

Post by petermcneeley » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:30 PM UTC

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #241

ekianjo wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it would be great if they cared as much about the safety of kids in the streets

> it would be great if they cared as much about the safety of kids in the streets car culture This isn't a cynically curated viewpoint. It's some* of what we have and what that cost. * we also have trespassing culture & stranger-danger culture. we ruined roaming and the childhood development it nurtured.

You think there wernt cars when I was a kid? I lived in the subs. Kid utopia!

Can you imagine bringing up cars in this thread?

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#265

Post by hparadiz » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:34 PM UTC

netsharc wrote: post #193

delfinom wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Non-nationalist parties that have been in power in Europe for so long are shitting their pants at the growing rise of nationalist parties and are absolutely planning to censor the shit out of them. I'm not even taking a side here and what they are trying to do is obvious.

Somehow the "center"'s answer to the rise of right-wingers is stupid censorship, instead of fighting ideas with better ideas. Alternatively, the center starts trying to attract right-wing voters by adopting right-wing ideas like anti-immigrant views or "well, we can sacrifice the climate a bit more" positions. Keir Starmer is from a "left" party but his actions has shown him to be a centrist, Ursula von der Leyen is…

They will establish censorship laws to try to stem the tide only to be surprised Pikachu face when inevitably at some point in the future one of these right wingers will win and then use all these things against them. No one ever learns.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#266

Post by cultofmetatron » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:37 PM UTC

Symbiote wrote: post #114

crims0n wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is really disheartening to see the sentiment around privacy erode like this. Fifteen or even ten years ago this would have been unanimously and vehemently opposed, but now it is somehow up for debate?

There has been 15 more years of highly motivated psychologists tuning their social media systems to create addiction, time for those who've grown up through this to become adults, foreign interference with democracy etc. Though I think banning it for children is the wrong approach. Ban the addictive and dangerous features for everyone, adults included — no more infinite scroll, and no more feeds showing content from…

This is far more to do with different people having different definitions for what constitutes a genocide with one very well funded minority group having a large stake in their version being the accepted one.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#267

Post by toyg » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:38 PM UTC

Fredkin wrote: post #258

toyg wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And they keep voting for the Labor party. The alternatives are even more power-mad, fundamentally illiberal parties (Reform, Conservatives), equally pearl-clutching ones that will likely continue on the same road as Labour (greens) and unreliable figures that will flip-flop as soon as they are in power (libdems). What's left? Count Binface, I guess.

Conservatives drafted the OSA in 2021. Reform are against it https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/28/reform-uk-v... Even the more extreme Restore are against it, and against Digital ID https://www.restorebritain.org.uk/restore_civil_liberties The Greens are ... well they wanted to amend it in 2024 to include a ban on fake news, but that could turn into a mechanism for censorship. And Lib/Lab/Con were all for…

Reform and Restore will say anything to get into power, and then they will turn into ultraconservatives. See also: council tax in pretty much all sizeable councils they got to control, which they promised to keep fixed and then raised immediately after getting in. Their instincts are traditional ultra-right.

And yeah, I agree that there is no natural home in UK politics for social liberism. Hence why quipping "they keep voting for this" is just pointless - there are no realistic alternatives, what we have at the moment is the least worst and it's still pretty bad.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#268

Post by WarOnPrivacy » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:54 PM UTC

petermcneeley wrote: post #264

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it would be great if they cared as much about the safety of kids in the streets car culture This isn't a cynically curated viewpoint. It's some* of what we have and what that cost. * we also have trespassing culture & stranger-danger culture. we ruined roaming and the childhood development it nurtured.

You think there wernt cars when I was a kid? I lived in the subs. Kid utopia! Can you imagine bringing up cars in this thread?

> You think there wernt cars when I was a kid? I lived in the subs. Kid utopia!

I believe you. I'm likely older than you, so there were even fewer cars when I was a kid. I'm confident my utopia was even better than yours.

Between then and now we have a gradient of loss. My kids grew up under 24/7 adulting and had nowhere to go.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#269

Post by oceanplexian » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:54 PM UTC

Too many people are seeing this like engineers and not like bureaucrats.

They won't be able to block all VPN services, and they don't really care. VPN still works in China. The entire point is to acclimate the public to a system of fear and control. You won't get arrested because you used a VPN, you'll get arrested a few weeks later because your neighbor snitched on you. They can easily enforce these laws without any form of technology.

Re: VPN ban update for UK households as government looks at 'age-gate'

#270

Post by cedws » Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 7:55 PM UTC

big85 wrote: post #123

Most VPN companies won't implement age verification, because their purpose is privacy. This is really an attempt to ban VPNs. This won't be popular when 70% of the population uses VPNs.

Most VPN providers are purely profit-driven enterprises, they don't give a shit about privacy. There are only a handful that would turn away UK business instead of requiring ID.