The UK Government has been told to steer clear of attempting to regulate virtual private networks (VPNs) following the example set by Utah in the US. The American state's decision to block VPNs from accessing porn sites has highlighted the potential challenges of regulating such networks.
According to a report by Utah officials, the state's move to block access to adult content through VPNs has been met with technical and commercial difficulties. The report warns that attempting to regulate VPNs could create a 'mess' in Utah, and it is likely that the UK would face similar issues.
Regulating VPNs would require significant changes to existing laws and infrastructure, including the Communications Act 2003, which currently prevents the Government from requiring ISPs to block VPNs.
The UK Government would also need to navigate the complexities of international law, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which safeguards individuals' online activities.
The UK's Digital Economy Act 2017 has established a system for ISPs to block access to adult content, but this only applies to UK-based websites and does not extend to VPNs.
Reacting to the news, a spokesperson for the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated that 'the UK Government is committed to protecting citizens from online harm, but we must do so in a way that respects individual freedoms and the rule of law'.