Lawmakers want to ban VPNs (eff.org)

Article summary

Lawmakers in Wisconsin and other states are proposing bills to ban the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an effort to enforce age verification laws and protect children from accessing harmful content. However, critics argue that this approach is technically impossible and would have unintended consequences, such as blocking access to VPNs for businesses, students, and vulnerable individuals who rely on them for privacy and security. The bills have sparked concerns about digital privacy and freedom, with many arguing that they would be ineffective and potentially harmful. The proposed laws have also raised questions about the role of government in regulating the internet and balancing individual rights with public safety.

Main themes

• VPN ban
• Age verification laws
• Digital privacy
• Internet regulation
• Government control
• Online safety

What commenters say

• Lawmakers are overstepping their bounds by trying to regulate the internet without understanding the technology, which could lead to unintended consequences.
• Banning VPNs would be ineffective in preventing access to harmful content and would instead harm legitimate users who rely on them for privacy and security.
• The proposed laws are a form of authoritarianism that threatens individual freedom and privacy, and could be used to suppress dissent and marginalized communities.
• The government should focus on education and addressing the root causes of harm online rather than trying to control the internet through legislation.
• Some argue that requiring ID verification for online activities could help prevent harm and ensure accountability, but others see this as an invasion of privacy and a threat to free speech.
• The distinction between lawful and unlawful online activities is not always clear, and arrests for online speech may be made without sufficient evidence or justification.
• The rise of online arrests and the lack of convictions suggest that people may be being arrested for perfectly legal speech, which could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression.
• The proposed laws are part of a larger trend of governments increasingly regulating the internet and restricting individual freedoms, which could have long-term consequences for democracy and human rights.