TL;DR
Several Western governments have recently targeted virtual private networks (VPNs) as part of broader online-content and child-protection laws. Denmark proposed and then shelved a domestic VPN ban amid public outcry, while related measures across the UK, Australia and the US are driving greater scrutiny of anonymity tools.
What happened
The Danish government, while holding the EU council presidency, pushed a contentious set of measures originating from the European Commission’s proposal to combat child sexual abuse online. The initial EU draft would have required platforms to scan private communications, including material protected by end-to-end encryption; after opposition from member states the EU Council did not pass that version. Denmark later advanced a pared-back compromise that allows voluntary searches for sensitive material, but privacy advocates and some former MEPs say the bill still falls short of safeguards such as court-ordered access and would severely restrict anonymous messaging and anonymous accounts. Separately, Denmark introduced a provision to criminalize the domestic use of VPNs to access geo-restricted content or bypass website blocks as part of anti-piracy legislation. That section drew heavy criticism and was publicly withdrawn or shelved by the culture minister. The debate in Denmark is occurring alongside similar pressures in other Western democracies over age verification, social media limits for minors, and the wider roll-out of digital identity mechanisms.
Why it matters
- Measures that curb VPN use or mandate scanning of private messages could weaken protections for anonymous speech and confidential sources.
- Vague or broad legal language risks criminalizing legitimate privacy and security practices, including use of VPNs for safety or access.
- Policies built around mandatory age verification and content scanning can create precedents for expanded surveillance and digital identity systems.
- Divergent national responses across democracies could fragment internet privacy norms and complicate cross-border communications.
Key facts
- Denmark pushed a compromise version of the EU’s Regulation to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse that permits voluntary searches of private chats rather than general monitoring.
- Critics, including former MEP Patrick Beyer, say the Danish proposal does not require court orders for access, bans children from downloading messaging apps, and would effectively outlaw anonymous communication.
- A proposed Danish ban on using VPNs to access geo-restricted media and bypass website blocks was removed or temporarily shelved after public and digital-rights objections.
- Jesper Lund of the IT Political Association described the Danish VPN provision as having a “totalitarian feel,” warning it could criminalize legitimate VPN sales and use.
- The UK’s age-verification and online-safety rules prompted a surge in VPN usage; the source reports a 6,430% rise in VPN use in the UK after its Online Safety Act went into force.
- Australia has implemented age verification rules that block under-16s from joining social platforms and require adults to submit ID, which some officials in other countries are citing as a model.
- US lawmakers, including Senators Katie Britt and Josh Hawley, have publicly supported stricter age-related limits on social media for children, according to the source.
- Snap said using a VPN won’t change existing users’ ability to access Snapchat, noting account eligibility considers where an account has been active over the past month; Meta also said it is prepared to comply with new age restrictions.
What to watch next
- Whether Denmark reintroduces or permanently abandons any legal language aimed at restricting VPN use: not confirmed in the source.
- If the EU or member states adopt stricter rules that require scanning of private communications without court orders: not confirmed in the source.
- How social platforms will reconcile enforced age-verification regimes with VPN usage and other circumvention tools over time: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- VPN (Virtual Private Network): A service that routes a device’s internet traffic through an intermediary server to hide the user’s IP address and encrypt connections, often used for privacy or to access region-restricted content.
- End-to-end encryption: A system of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages; intermediaries, including service providers, cannot access the plaintext content.
- Age verification: Processes or technologies used to confirm a user’s age before granting access to age-restricted online services or content.
- CSAM: Child Sexual Abuse Material; illicit content involving sexual abuse of minors that many governments and platforms aim to remove and prevent.
Reader FAQ
Did Denmark ban VPNs?
A proposed provision to make certain domestic VPN uses illegal was removed or temporarily shelved after criticism; a permanent ban is not confirmed in the source.
Would the EU require platforms to scan encrypted messages?
The original EU proposal would have required scanning of private communications including encrypted content; member-state opposition prevented that version from passing and Denmark later advanced a different compromise.
Can using a VPN bypass new age-verification systems?
The source reports sharp increases in VPN use after age-verification rules were introduced, but effectiveness and circumvention vary; detailed outcomes are not confirmed in the source.
Are anonymous accounts still possible under proposed rules?
Critics say the Danish proposal would effectively outlaw anonymous email and messenger accounts by requiring identification, but the final legal status is contested.
Governments in the West Are Turning Their Sights on VPNs As They Escalate Their Assault on Online Privacy and Anonymity Posted on December 23, 2025 by Nick Corbishley “Politicians have…
Sources
- Governments in the West Are Turning Their Sights on VPNs
- Banning VPNs
- Governments in the West Are Turning Their Sights on VPNs …
- Kids online safety hits a legal and political breaking point in …
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