Banning VPNs to protect kids? Good luck with that

Analysis With the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) now in effect, it was only a matter of time before tech-savvy under-18s figured out how to bypass the rules and regain access to adult content.

The more creative wangled the "robust" selfie-based verification systems by using the in-game selfie feature in the Death Stranding sequel, which worked for Discord's k-ID system.

However the more obvious workaround was to simply install a VPN and browse the web as if from another country where such age verification laws don't apply. As has been widely reported, including by this vulture's kettlemates, some VPN companies reported a 1,400 percent increase in sign-ups since the OSA came into force.

The government could pull various technical levers, such as banning the sale of VPN kit, but as people who spoke to The Register about the matter said, it would be like banning people from smoking in their own homes.

"You might not like it, but good luck enforcing it," said Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software. "The logistics are near-impossible. You could, in theory, ban the sale of VPN equipment, or instruct ISPs not to accept VPN traffic. But even then, people will find workarounds. All you'd achieve is pushing VPN use underground, creating a black market for VPN concentrators.

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