Online safety debate: Peer claims kids' VPNs 'expose devices to viruses'

A Liberal Democrat peer has claimed children in the UK are turning to free VPN apps that "monetise user data and expose devices to viruses" to dodge age restrictions.

Baroness Benjamin opened a House of Lords debate last week by asking the government how they're working to stop children from using the privacy tools to bypass the Online Safety Act.

In response, Liz Lloyd, a science and technology minister, told peers that the government is working to address the "evidence gap" regarding how many children are using the tools. She added that the government is committed to ensuring any "future interventions are proportionate and evidence-based".