Research by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) indicates that VPNs allow users to bypass age verification systems on the Internet. With the increase of these measures to protect minors, VPN usage has skyrocketed in regions such as the United Kingdom and some US states. The report proposes restricting access to these services based on the user's age.
The technical dilemma between verification and anonymity in networks 🔐
From a technical standpoint, the EPRS proposal involves implementing verification systems within the VPN providers themselves. This would require companies to store personal data or identification documents to confirm the user's age, which contradicts their primary function of privacy. Operators warn that this would create risks of data breaches and mass surveillance, weakening the anonymity sought by millions of legitimate users.
The magic solution: asking for an ID to hide your IP 🤡
So the idea is that, to prevent a minor from bypassing age controls, we ask everyone to show their ID before hiding their IP. Because, of course, nothing screams privacy and freedom on the Internet more than having to register with your real name to use a tool designed to leave no trace. Perhaps the next step will be asking for a smiling photo to confirm you are not a robot or a mischievous teenager.