House of Lords Approves Landmark VPN Ban for Children in UK
The House of Lords has taken a decisive step toward enhancing child protection online by voting to prohibit the provision of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services to children across the United Kingdom. This significant legislative move forms part of the ongoing efforts to bolster the safeguards established by the Online Safety Act.
The Amendment and Voting Outcome
On 21st January 2026, peers in the House of Lords debated and subsequently voted on Amendment 92 to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The amendment, moved by Lord Nash, was inserted after Clause 27 and is formally titled "Action to prohibit the provision of VPN services to children in the United Kingdom".
The vote resulted in a clear majority in favour, with 207 Lords backing the proposal and 159 voting against it. This outcome underscores a parliamentary consensus on the need for more robust digital protections for young people, albeit with notable opposition highlighting concerns about the approach.
Key Provisions of the New Clause
The newly passed clause mandates specific actions from the government to enforce this prohibition. According to the amendment's text, the Secretary of State is required, within twelve months of the Act receiving Royal Assent, to make regulations that establish the "child VPN prohibition".
These regulations must include several critical components:
- Requiring VPN service providers to implement highly effective age assurance processes for anyone seeking to access their services from within the UK.
- Applying the prohibition to any relevant VPN service that is offered, marketed, or provided to a significant number of persons in the United Kingdom.
- Establishing comprehensive provisions for the monitoring and effective enforcement of the ban.
Furthermore, the amendment grants OFCOM the authority to produce guidance to assist VPN providers in complying with the new rules. Importantly, any statutory instrument containing these regulations must be approved by a resolution of both Houses of Parliament before it can be enacted, ensuring further parliamentary scrutiny.
Rationale and Political Debate
The amendment's stated purpose is to "promote and protect children’s wellbeing" and to support child protective measures within the Online Safety Act by preventing the use of VPNs to circumvent age-gating processes. Proponents argue this is a necessary step to close a potential loophole that could undermine online safety frameworks.
However, the debate revealed significant concerns. Lord Knight of Weymouth, representing the Labour Party, voiced strong reservations during the Lords' discussion. He cautioned that a "blunt, blanket ban" could have unintended negative consequences.
"VPNs can make us more secure, and we should not rush to deprive children of that safety," Lord Knight argued. He highlighted the dual-use nature of VPN technology, which can provide security benefits as well as pose risks. He also raised questions about how such a ban might affect young people's access to legitimate online activities, social connection, news, and entrepreneurial endeavours, potentially forcing them onto adult accounts with exposure to inappropriate content.
Lord Knight emphasised the need for a more sophisticated and nuanced approach, stating that while the arguments for protecting children from social media dangers are compelling, the solution must balance safety with access to positive online experiences and information.
The Path Forward and Implications
The passage of this amendment marks a pivotal moment in the UK's evolving digital policy landscape. It reflects growing governmental focus on regulating technologies that can obscure user identity and location, particularly in contexts involving minors.
The next stages involve the detailed drafting of regulations by the Secretary of State and the mandatory parliamentary approval process. The implementation will likely spark further discussion among technology providers, child safety advocates, digital rights groups, and educators about the practicalities of age verification and the broader impact on children's digital literacy and rights.
This legislative action positions the UK at the forefront of attempting to legislate control over VPN usage for a specific demographic, setting a precedent that will be closely watched by other nations grappling with similar online safety challenges.
