- UK government have launched consultation on children’s online safety
- Leading VPN companies confirmed they are willing to engage
- Companies say privacy must be considered during debates
Major VPN providers including ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and Windscribe have signaled their readiness to engage with the UK government’s upcoming three-month consultation on children’s online safety.
The move follows a period of heightened political scrutiny over the technology, including a controversial House of Lords amendment that proposed mandatory age-verification for VPN users.
Representatives for the four VPN providers told TechRadar they would be happy to join the consultation to help shape upcoming policy but that they had not been contacted yet.
The government is expected to publish specific participation guidelines and additional details in the coming weeks.
What is the consultation?
Last month, the UK Government announced a three-month consultation to explore new ways to improve children’s safety online.
Alongside discussions over social media use and “excessive doomscrolling,” the government will also hear from parents, tech companies and children about the role of VPNs.
The consultation has been criticized by the opposition, who argued the government should act faster to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s.
Meanwhile, the House of Lords recently voted in favor of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would effectively ban under-18s from using VPNs.
However, as the government holds a strong majority in the House of Commons, it is expected to vote down the ban in favor of its own evidence-gathering process.
This means the three-month consultation remains the most likely path for any final legislation. The process is expected to conclude by the end of the summer, at which point the government will unveil its formal plan.
How has the VPN industry reacted?
Most VPN providers adopted a diplomatic tone when asked about their potential involvement in the consultation.
Surfshark’s Head of Legal, Gytis Malinauskas, said the company is “always open to constructive conversations with policymakers,” while a spokesperson for NordVPN confirmed it was “open to meaningful dialogue”.
An ExpressVPN spokesperson also stated the company is “open to constructive conversations” with the government.
Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak struck a characteristically blunt tone. While confirming he is prepared to engage in the process, Sak said: “We’re willing to speak to them and educate them on the errors of their ways.”
Sak has previously described the push for age-checks on VPNs as “the dumbest possible fix” for online safety concerns.
A ‘false dichotomy’ between privacy and safety
Despite heightened scrutiny in recent weeks, VPN providers are eager to highlight the importance and utility of their products to policymakers.
Pete Membrey, ExpressVPN’s Chief Research Officer, noted the importance of ensuring that any new policies “balance online safety with individuals’ fundamental right to privacy”.
The company also cautioned against “false dichotomies” that often frame these debates, noting that protecting privacy and improving safety are not mutually exclusive goals.
Surfshark echoed this sentiment, suggesting that while it supports the goal of protecting children online, it is vital that safety discussions take user privacy and data protection into account.
With many of the best VPNs now offering features specifically designed for families – including built-in parental controls and content filtering – providers are expected to emphasize how their products can be part of the solution, rather than just a tool for bypassing age-verification measures.
TechRadar will continue to follow the consultation as it develops.
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sVRUkmBUHXvc7htyggU2iU-1344-80.jpg
Source link
samuel.woodhams@futurenet.com (Samuel Woodhams)
