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

• Lib dem peer warns of free VPN dangers
• Minister says government will address "evidence gap" with continued monitoring
• A VPN ban is highly unlikely in the UK

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".

This is the latest in a series of parliamentary discussions that have referenced the technology amid growing frustration that the government's landmark safety legislation is being sidestepped by easily accessible software.

Ofcom is monitoring VPN use in the UK, but there's no indication that a ban is imminent.

What can we learn from the debate?

The use of VPNs to circumvent the Online Safety Act has been a concern since at least 2022. However, there’s now growing appreciation among politicians that the issue can’t be easily fixed.

The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, acknowledged that it is "very hard to police the use of VPNs," while stressing the importance of education in protecting children online.

Meanwhile, Baroness Benjamin asserted that "teenagers actively seek out and share methods to circumvent" the age verification process.

Peers also acknowledged the literacy gap between legislators and the children they are legislating for.

Baroness Thornton noted: "I do not know how many noble Lords here would know how to download a VPN and then choose a country which has no age-verification rules. It is clear that there are teenagers who can do this."

Given this growing awareness of VPNs and their potential to circumvent the Online Safety Act, it’s unsurprising that the government finds itself on the defensive again.

For now, ministers can only point to Ofcom’s ongoing investigations – a stance unlikely to satisfy child safety advocates like the Children's Commissioner for England, who urged for immediate action to close the VPN loophole.

A note on the risks of free VPNs

It’s encouraging to see politicians raising such well-informed perspectives on VPNs.

After reporting on the VPN industry since 2018, I didn’t expect to find myself nodding in agreement with life peers and senior religious figures. But Baroness Benjamin is right: many free VPNs can – and often do – monetise your data and leave you vulnerable to malware.

However, there is a distinction to be made between these dangerous "scam" apps and legitimate free services. If you are going to use a free tool, it’s vital to ensure that it is from a verified provider; our guide to the best free VPNs is a good place to start.

That said, free services will always be limited by data caps and slower speeds. For a fully unrestricted experience that guarantees your privacy and security, we recommend upgrading to a premium service like NordVPN, Surfshark or Proton VPN.

Distinguishing between apps that pose a genuine threat like those Baroness Benjamin warned of and those that work to protect digital privacy will be essential for the government to inform effective legislation.

It’s also vital they keep in mind the ministers’ insights from a separate debate in the House of Lords from the same day. Namely, that “there are legitimate reasons to use VPNs.”

Hopefully, the government takes notice of the knowledgeable contributions from this debate and lives up to its promise that any future legislation will be proportionate and grounded in reality.