New VPN rules for UK households are set to be introduced from July, following a government update from Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. Speaking on Tuesday, June 16, ahead of potential new VPN restrictions, Kendall confirmed that a July update is forthcoming.
Government Announcement on VPN Restrictions
Liz Kendall, the Labour Party Technology Secretary, told BBC Breakfast: "We will make further statements in July about VPNs and further restrictions." This announcement comes as ministers engage in a concerted lobbying effort to prevent backlash from the Trump administration regarding the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer.
Kendall added: "I said I'd come back in July with a further statement around VPN but also additional measures we want to look at, further restrictions on AI chatbots that parents have found very worrying, more overnight curfews or breaks in doomscrolling for 16 and 17 year olds."
Public Reaction to the Proposed Changes
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions from the public. One viewer responded: "I told people they'd come for VPN's, they called me a madman!" Another commented: "But but... think about children!!!" and questioned: "Ok now serious, does anyone know what they could do with VPN? Ban it? Like what tech stands behind VPN and what would be the wider spectrum of any action taken against VPN."
A third person said: "Politicians and ministers in particular shouldn't be able to appear and promote issues like this without an expert present to challenge, clarify, and offer explanations." Another added: "VPN's are used in homes and businesses, mod, government. For instance in a public place if you are using your phone the best way to secure it and the data held on it, is to switch on your VPN. So how exactly do they supposed they will restrict them? Why are MP's and Civil servants proposed to be exempt?"
Context of the Social Media Ban
Kendall emphasized the urgency of the measures, stating: "Yesterday's announcement was the first of the measures and the reason we have done that is the sooner we make a decision on the main question of the ban, the sooner we can get it through Parliament and the sooner it will come into practice. Because many families are desperate for this to happen and I listen particularly to bereaved families that say the longer we delay this, the more children are put at risk. And I took that very seriously."
