Wisconsin Bill Threatens VPN Access, Igniting Privacy Concerns Across the US
A controversial bill in Wisconsin is sparking alarm among privacy advocates, potentially paving the way for a nationwide crackdown on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) under the guise of protecting children.
The escalating battle over digital privacy has taken a dramatic turn as lawmakers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and beyond seek to ban VPNs in response to their use in circumventing new age verification laws. These laws, requiring ID checks for access to certain online content, are now facing a backlash as individuals turn to VPNs to protect their privacy – prompting legislators to target the tools themselves.
As of this writing, Wisconsin lawmakers are advancing A.B. 105/S.B. 130, a bill that would compel websites distributing “sexual content” to implement age verification and block VPN users. The legislation significantly broadens the definition of “harmful to minors,” potentially encompassing depictions and discussions of human anatomy, sexuality, and reproduction – far beyond existing legal restrictions. This follows a concerning trend, as lawmakers in conservative states have increasingly sought to expand the definition of “harmful to minors” to censor diverse educational materials, sex education resources, art, and even award-winning literature.
The bill has already passed the State Assembly and is now under consideration by the Senate. If enacted, Wisconsin would become the first state to outlaw VPN access for certain content. While similar legislation in Michigan stalled, it proposed forcing internet providers to actively monitor and block VPN connections. Even across the Atlantic, officials in the UK are reportedly labeling VPNs a “loophole that needs closing.”
“This is actually happening,” one digital rights advocate stated, “and it’s going to be a disaster for everyone.”
Why Blocking VPNs is a Flawed Approach
VPNs enhance online security by masking a user’s location, routing internet traffic through a server elsewhere. Websites only see the VPN server’s IP address, not the user’s actual location – akin to using a P.O. box for mail. However, Wisconsin’s demand to block VPN users presents a technical impossibility. Websites cannot reliably determine the origin of a VPN connection, whether it’s coming from Milwaukee, Michigan, or Mumbai.
This leaves websites with a difficult choice: cease operations in Wisconsin or block all VPN users globally to avoid legal repercussions. One state’s misguided law threatens to disrupt VPN access for the entire internet, with potentially far-reaching and unintended consequences.
The Widespread Use of VPNs Extends Far Beyond Privacy Concerns
The impact of these bills extends far beyond individuals seeking to bypass age verification. VPNs are integral to the operations of businesses, educational institutions, and vulnerable populations.
Businesses rely on VPNs for remote employee access, secure data transmission, and protection against cyberattacks. Students utilize VPNs – such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s WiscVPN – to access essential research databases, course materials, and library resources. These aren’t optional; many professors require VPN access for assignments.
Perhaps most critically, VPNs provide a lifeline for vulnerable individuals. Domestic abuse survivors use them to conceal their location from abusers, journalists protect their sources, activists organize without government surveillance, and LGBTQ+ individuals access vital resources in hostile environments. For those living under censorship, VPNs offer a crucial connection to information and support. Regular users also employ VPNs to protect their privacy from data tracking and surveillance by advertisers and internet service providers.
A Privacy Nightmare Scenario
Blocking VPNs would force individuals to submit government IDs, biometric data, or credit card information directly to websites for age verification – all without encryption or privacy safeguards. This creates a massive security risk. “We already know how this story ends,” a cybersecurity expert warned. “Companies get hacked, data gets breached, and suddenly your personal information is exposed.” Such breaches are not a matter of if, but when, with potentially devastating repercussions.
Forcing individuals to surrender their privacy for access to legal content is a dangerous precedent, effectively turning surveillance into a form of safety.
Redefining “Harmful to Minors” to Expand Censorship
These laws also seek to broaden the definition of “harmful to minors” to encompass a wider range of protected speech. Historically, restrictions on materials accessible to minors have been narrowly defined, requiring a lack of social value and an appeal to “prurient sexual interests.” Wisconsin’s bill, however, defines “harmful to minors” far more broadly, encompassing materials that merely describe sex or depict human anatomy.
This expansive definition could encompass literature, music, television, films, and even basic scientific and medical content. Furthermore, the bill’s threshold – applying to websites where just one-third of the content is deemed “harmful” – could effectively target most social media platforms. As these topics become increasingly politicized, there is a risk that Wisconsin could expand the definition to include LGBTQ+ health resources, sex education materials, and reproductive healthcare information. This breadth of definition isn’t an oversight; it’s a deliberate attempt to grant the state broad discretion over what speech is deemed “appropriate.”
The Inevitable Failure of VPN Blocking
Even if Wisconsin were to successfully pass this law, it would be largely ineffective. Individuals intent on bypassing restrictions would simply utilize non-commercial VPNs, open proxies, or inexpensive virtual private servers. The internet consistently finds ways to circumvent censorship.
Even in a hypothetical scenario where all commercial VPNs were blocked, individuals could create their own using cloud services like AWS or DigitalOcean. The law would disproportionately impact businesses, students, journalists, abuse survivors, and anyone else who relies on VPNs for legitimate purposes, achieving nothing beyond making the internet less safe and less private.
“Like the larger age verification legislation they are a part of, VPN-blocking provisions simply don’t work,” one analyst noted. “They harm millions of people and they set a terrifying precedent for government control of the internet.”
A Misguided Response to a Legitimate Concern
The proliferation of VPN use is a direct response to growing concerns about online surveillance and the erosion of privacy. Instead of addressing these concerns, lawmakers are attempting to ban the tools that empower individuals to protect themselves.
“Lawmakers need to abandon this entire approach,” a privacy advocate urged. “The answer to keeping kids safe online isn’t destroying everyone’s privacy.”
A more effective approach would involve investing in education, supporting parents with better tools, and addressing the root causes of online harm. Attacks on VPNs are attacks on digital privacy and freedom, driven by legislators who lack a fundamental understanding of the technology.
If you live in Wisconsin, contact your Senator and urge them to kill A.B. 105/S.B. 130. Our privacy matters. VPNs matter. And politicians who can’t distinguish between a security tool and a “loophole” shouldn’t be writing laws about the internet.
Republished from the EFF’s Deeplinks blog.
Filed Under: ab 105, age verification, harmful to minors, sb 130, vpns, wisconsin
