"VPNs are not kryptonite of age assurance" – Age verification experts explain why governments don’t need to ban VPNs

Using a VPN service should not be an obstacle to effectively enforcing mandatory age verification checks, like those recently implemented in the UK.

This is the response coming from the Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA) to the surge in VPN demand across the UK since the new rules came into play. The surge has also raised the question of whether VPN tools would make the Online Safety Act implementation ineffective.

According to the AVPA, to remain compliant, digital services need to actively detect VPN usage and give users the option to either prove their age or their real location.

"No need to even consider banning VPNs"

"Some argue that because VPNs ...