So a few states in the US are attempting to ban VPN use because children are using them to access porn sites and things of that nature. So they are going to push for a ban. Seeing as I am in one of these states, I am a bit concerned. I use VPNs for privacy and I think this is what most people use them for. I am not sure what other options I will have if they get banned. Any ideas?
I believe the only serious states are Wisconsin and Michigan when it comes to this.
And what will happen if it passes? Not much. People will just use non-commercial VPNs. That or they will seek out open proxies or cheap virtual private servers. There will always be a work around to this. I think their main goal isn't to protect children, it is to track everyone online.
blacksaturn Topic starter
10/01/2026 3:32 pm
@techmoose I guess if you know what you are doing with them, it won't matter but don't the vast majority of people not understand this stuff? Like if VPNs are not in the market places online for browsers or systems, they won't know what to do.
TechMoose 11/01/2026 4:43 pm
There will be work-a-rounds made easy for people. VPN companies that function via browsers will likely release "soft-ware" for privacy to bypass any laws put in place. Just like online gambling is not legal in most states yet people are able to gamble via crypto. It isn't hard to do.
I agree that even if laws pass, people will just find a way around it. No matter what they do, the people that know what they are doing with find a way. The trouble is, if they keep pushing then the internet will end up being heavily regulated and for every day people that don't understand computers on a server, integration, or programmer level - they will end up being stripped the most of their privacy.
blacksaturn Topic starter
10/01/2026 3:34 pm
@glitch72 Yeah that is what my thinking is. People that know computers and such will be fine but most other people, they won't know what to do and many won't know any better. A lot of people take their privacy online for granted.
There are a number of states now requiring state ID to access certain pornographic websites and this is why they are pushing to bane VPNs. I under stand why they would think this is a solution but it is very surface level and won't change anything. It will just punish everyone for the few.
As mentioned though, just like with AI, VPNs are not going anywhere. They couldn't stop people from pirating music, movies, tv shows, etc. and they won't be able to stop the use of VPNs.