The idea seemed unlikely just a few months ago, and yet it is now being discussed in several American states: banning the use of VPNs .
This political shift is part of a wave of age verification laws , already highly contested, and could drastically alter internet access for millions of people…
Bills that ignore technical realities?
It all started in Wisconsin. With text AB 105 / SB 130 , sites that distribute content that could be considered “sexual” would be forced to integrate an age verification system … and block users connected via VPN .
The State Assembly has already approved the bill, which is now before the Senate. To date, Michigan has also proposed a similar bill that would require internet service providers to monitor and block these connections.
The problem, as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) points out , is that what lawmakers are asking for is simply unfeasible . A VPN masks the true origin of a connection by routing it through a third-party server, but a website only sees the server’s IP address, not the user’s. This means that distinguishing a connection originating from Milwaukee, Michigan, or Mumbai is technically impossible.
The platforms would then face a dilemma: either cease operating in Wisconsin or block all VPN users worldwide to avoid potential legal action. A single local law could thus make VPN access significantly more difficult for the entire web …
A direct threat to businesses, students, and vulnerable populations
Beyond the technical impossibility, the social implications are vast . VPNs now structure the organization of work, with many companies using them to secure internal communications , protect data , or even to support remote work .
The academic community is just as dependent on it: the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, offers WiscVPN , essential for accessing internal university resources or university databases. In practical terms, banning these tools would immediately disrupt student life and research.
Finally, the issue also affects vulnerable groups , such as journalists who protect their sources, victims of violence who seek to conceal their location, or activists and minorities who need access to safe spaces for discussion.
In other words, for many, a VPN represents an essential safety net , not a workaround…