Australia has officially moved into the next phase of its mandatory age verification rollout. Following the implementation of a world-first social media ban for under-16s last December, internet users must now provide proof of age to access adult-only content and material deemed unsuitable for minors.
As seen in other regions with similar laws, VPNs have rapidly climbed the Australian app store charts as residents seek ways to protect their digital footprint. While it’s difficult to determine if these new users are minors attempting to bypass restrictions or adults concerned about the privacy risks of sharing sensitive ID data, the trend is undeniable.
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The VPN dilemma
A virtual private network (VPN) is an important security tool that encrypts a user’s connection to protect them online. By rerouting traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server, a VPN masks a user’s real IP address and replaces it with a virtual location.
While this technology is a favorite for streamers and those living under authoritarian regimes, it also provides a simple way to bypass domestic content blocks. By selecting a VPN server in a country without mandatory age verification, Australian users can access websites and apps without having to scan government IDs or undergo facial recognition checks.
However, the workaround is changing how regulators perceive the technology. Once viewed as an essential tool for privacy and security, VPNs are increasingly being framed by officials as “loopholes” that need to be closed.
NordVPN privacy advocate Laura Tyrylyte told TechRadar that while protecting minors is a vital goal, targeting VPNs is a “fundamentally flawed approach.”
She warns that broad restrictions would jeopardize the digital safety of legitimate users, including businesses securing remote work, journalists protecting sources, and everyday citizens looking to secure their personal data.
The political landscape in Australia
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has not announced a direct ban on VPNs. However, current guidance for online service providers suggests a tightening of the net.
The eSafety Commissioner expects platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent workarounds, which include detecting and restricting the use of VPNs. Suggested methods include monitoring for irregular traffic patterns and utilizing IP intelligence APIs to flag and block known VPN server ranges.
As Tyrylyte points out, this creates a significant privacy conflict. Premium VPNs often include their own internal barriers to prevent unauthorized use by minors, yet government-mandated blocking could strip adults of their primary defense against data breaches and invasive tracking.
Will the UK set a global precedent?
While US proposals to restrict VPNs have largely stalled — with Wisconsin recently scrapping such rules — the debate is moving much faster in Europe. France has already hinted that VPN restrictions could be on the table if its social media bans are widely circumvented.
The UK is currently the most significant testing ground for these policies. On March 2, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) launched a landmark consultation on digital safety for children. This process, which runs until May 26, 2026, explicitly asks for public and expert input on whether VPNs should be age-restricted.
This follows a previous attempt in the House of Lords to implement a ban on the technology for children. While that amendment was eventually softened in favor of an evidence-led approach, the outcome of the current consultation will likely provide a blueprint for other nations.
Lawmakers worldwide are watching these developments closely. If the UK decides that restricting VPN access is a necessary step for child safety, Australia may well find itself at a crossroads between enforcing its new laws and protecting the fundamental digital privacy of its citizens.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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chiara.castro@futurenet.com (Chiara Castro)
