Is the UK government planning to ban VPNs?

The implementation of the UK's Online Safety Act has had a huge impact on how social media and online resources are accessed, with many users opting to subscribe to VPNs in an attempt to circumvent the restrictions. So could the British government look to ban VPNs?

Based on a recent surge in interest in VPNs, the Online Safety Act is seemingly nudging many in the UK to turn to the best VPNs in an attempt to circumvent age restriction checks while keeping their online activity private.

Figures released this week indicate that five million daily age checks have been made on relevant websites, with photo IDs, credit cards, and other formal documentation being relied upon. But with the number of VPN signups increasing considerably since the act came into law, there have been suggestions that the UK government might ban or limit VPNs.

This would have ramifications for everything from remote working to using a VPN for gaming. It would also place the UK alongside some of the most anti-liberal societies in the world, such as China and Russia. However, the UK science secretary Peter Kyle has now stated the government is merely looking "very closely" at VPN use.

While the publicized aims of the Online Safety Act focus on child safety, it has several unintended consequences, believed to be pushing additional VPN adoption. Concerns about data fraud from proving identity, overseas data storage of such ID records, new opportunities for phishing scams, and the poor track record of successive UK governments in digital endeavors (everything from the Post Office/Horizon scandal to the NHS) have contributed to a lack of trust in the act.

Realistically, it is unlikely that the UK government will ban VPNs. While VPN apps continue to top app store charts a week after the law was introduced, demand will probably tail off as everyone who wants a VPN gets one.

But if you're in the market for a gaming VPN, there are plenty at a competitive price.