Developing Story: Wisconsin lawmakers want to ban VPNs completely. The Electronic Frontier Foundation reportsA.B. 105/S.B. 130 would require websites to block all VPN users, making Wisconsin the first US state where using privacy tools to access certain content becomes illegal.
Michigan proposed similar legislation. UK officials call VPNs “a loophole that needs closing.” Politicians discovered people use privacy tools to bypass invasive age verification laws. Their solution? Ban privacy itself.
Brutal Truth: This is happening. And the people writing these laws have zero understanding of how VPNs work or what they’re actually banning.
What Wisconsin’s Bill Actually Says
The legislation reveals technological illiteracy at a frightening scale:
Bill Requirements:
- All websites with “sexual content” must implement age verification
- Websites must block access from VPN connections
- Expands “harmful to minors” to include discussions of human anatomy
- Could encompass sex education, reproductive health information
- Penalties for noncompliance (unspecified but implied severe)
The Technical Impossibility:
VPNs mask your real location by routing traffic through servers elsewhere. When you visit a website through VPN, the site only sees the VPN server’s IP address, not your actual location.
Power Move: The EFF explains Wisconsin demands websites “block VPN users from Wisconsin.” That’s asking for something technically impossible. How does a website identify Wisconsin VPN users when VPNs specifically hide Wisconsin as the origin location?
Answer: They can’t. The entire premise is nonsense.
Countries That Already Banned VPNs
Wisconsin would join distinguished company:
Complete VPN Bans:
North Korea: Total ban, draconian enforcement
Turkmenistan: Banned 2019, forced citizens to swear on Quran they won’t use VPNs
Belarus: Outright illegal, monitoring enforced
Iraq: Banned during ISIS conflict, restrictions remain
Heavy Restrictions:
China: Only government approved VPNs allowed (defeating entire purpose)
Russia: Individual VPN providers banned, nearly 100 apps removed from App Store
Iran: Government drafted 2022 regulation requiring pre approval for VPN purchase
UAE: Legal for corporate use, restricted for individuals
Oman: Technically legal but accessing encrypted internet without permission is not
Enforcement Methods:
Deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect VPN traffic
ISP cooperation to block VPN websites and servers
Government controlled VPN registries
Active monitoring and periodic device checks
Legal penalties including fines and imprisonment
Reality Check: These are authoritarian regimes using VPN bans to control information access. Wisconsin wants to join this list in the name of “protecting children.”
How Countries Actually Enforce Bans
Technical measures vary in effectiveness:
Deep Packet Inspection:
China’s Great Firewall analyzes packet headers to identify VPN protocols. Resource intensive but partially effective. VPNs fight back with obfuscation making traffic appear as regular HTTPS.
IP Address Blacklisting:
Governments maintain lists of known VPN server IPs and block them. VPN providers counter by constantly rotating to new IP addresses. Arms race with no clear winner.
DNS Blocking:
ISPs prevent DNS resolution for VPN provider websites. Easy to bypass by using alternative DNS servers (1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8).
ISP Throttling:
Internet providers detect and slow down VPN traffic. Makes VPNs frustratingly slow without outright blocking them.
Legal Intimidation:
Police occasionally demand citizens remove VPN apps from devices. Creates chilling effect even without formal prosecution.
Government Approved VPNs Only:
Russia and China require VPNs to register with government. Registered VPNs must log user data and censor content. Completely defeats privacy purpose.
Insider Secret: VPN providers continually develop new obfuscation techniques. Tor bridges disguise traffic as regular internet usage. It’s a constant technological arms race.
The “Think of the Children” Excuse
Age verification laws create the justification for VPN bans:
How It Escalates:
- Politicians pass age verification for “adult content”
- People use VPNs to access content without giving government IDs
- Politicians claim VPNs are “loopholes” undermining child safety
- Solution: Ban VPNs entirely
What Gets Banned Under “Harmful to Minors”:
- Educational content about human anatomy
- Reproductive health information
- LGBTQ+ resources and support
- Sexual assault survivor resources
- News articles discussing sexuality
- Social media platforms (Mississippi already blocks Bluesky statewide)
Brutal Truth: Age verification won’t keep children safe. Instead it creates restrictive government control over what anyone (adults included) can access online. The “child safety” framing is the Trojan horse.
Reality Check: Mississippi blocked access to entire social platforms. Dreamwidth and Bluesky are completely inaccessible from within the state. This is the future age verification creates.
Why VPN Bans Are Technological Nonsense
The proposals demonstrate fundamental misunderstanding:
Problem 1: Identification Is Impossible
Websites can maintain lists of known VPN provider IP addresses. But VPNs rotate IPs constantly. New VPN services launch weekly. Self hosted VPNs using personal servers are indistinguishable from regular traffic.
Problem 2: Encrypted Traffic Everywhere
Banking apps use encryption. Messaging apps use encryption. Video calls use encryption. VPNs use encryption. Banning “encrypted internet access” (like Oman attempted) would break everything.
Problem 3: Corporate VPN Necessity
Businesses require VPNs for remote work. How do you allow corporate VPNs while banning personal VPNs when the technology is identical?
Problem 4: SSH and Other Protocols
VPN bans written broadly enough might accidentally ban SSH (Secure Shell) used to manage servers. Or any encrypted tunneling protocol. You’d make cloud computing illegal.
Lifehack: Security expert Bruce Schneier calls this crazy, comparing VPN bans to banning roads because bank robbers use them for getaways.
Who Actually Gets Hurt
VPN bans don’t affect the powerful:
Protected Groups:
- Corporations (exempted for “business purposes”)
- Government officials (maintaining secure communications)
- Wealthy individuals (VPNs through offshore companies)
- Technical experts (self hosted VPNs, Tor, other workarounds)
Vulnerable Populations:
- Average citizens lacking technical knowledge
- Journalists needing source protection
- Whistleblowers exposing wrongdoing
- LGBTQ+ individuals accessing support resources
- Political dissidents organizing opposition
- Domestic abuse survivors seeking help
Power Move: Authoritarians ban VPNs not to protect anyone but to control information. When UK officials call VPNs “loopholes,” they’re saying privacy itself is the problem.
The Five Eyes Surveillance Connection
VPN jurisdiction matters for legal protections:
Five Eyes Alliance:
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand share intelligence data extensively.
Nine Eyes Addition:
Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway add to intelligence sharing.
Fourteen Eyes Complete:
Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden expand surveillance network.
Why This Matters:
VPNs based in Five Eyes countries can be compelled to share user data through legal orders. Data shared with one member gets shared with all five.
Safer Jurisdictions:
Panama: No data retention laws, no Five Eyes membership
British Virgin Islands: Privacy focused, offshore protections
Switzerland: Strong privacy laws, neutral political stance
Romania: Privacy protections, EU without invasive policies
Reality Check: VPN marketing loves claiming “military grade encryption” while headquartered in California (US jurisdiction, Five Eyes member). Location matters more than encryption strength.
What the FBI Actually Recommends
Ironically, US law enforcement supports VPN usage:
FBI Public Statement:
The agency recommends VPNs for online privacy, particularly on public WiFi networks. Encrypted connections prevent interception by malicious actors.
The Contradiction:
Federal law enforcement says use VPNs for security. State lawmakers want to ban them for “safety.” The cognitive dissonance is staggering.
Insider Tip: When even the FBI recommends privacy tools, politicians banning them reveal their real motivation: control, not protection.
Legal vs Illegal VPN Usage
Using VPNs is different from using them illegally:
Always Legal (in US, for now):
- Protecting privacy on public WiFi
- Securing remote work connections
- Avoiding ISP throttling
- Accessing content you legally own from different location
- General anonymity and privacy protection
Potentially Illegal:
- Pirating copyrighted content (VPN doesn’t make theft legal)
- Buying/selling on dark web marketplaces
- Accessing truly illegal content (child abuse material, etc.)
- Cybercrime activities (hacking, fraud, ransomware)
- Illegal trading (narcotics, stolen data, weapons)
Nuance:
Using VPN to access geo blocked streaming content violates Terms of Service, not laws. Netflix might ban your account but you won’t face criminal charges.
Power Move: Security.org clarifies there’s no constitutional right to anonymous browsing in the US, but VPN usage for privacy (not crime) is completely legal.
The Streaming Geoblocking Question
Complicated legal territory with minimal enforcement:
What Happens:
Netflix US library differs from Netflix UK library due to licensing agreements. People use VPNs to access content unavailable in their region.
Is This Illegal?
No. It violates Netflix Terms of Service but isn’t a crime. Worst case scenario is account termination.
Why Services Don’t Sue:
- Huge PR disaster
- Customers are paying subscribers
- Many users travel legitimately and need VPN access
- Technical challenges proving VPN usage intent
Reality Check: Content providers actively detect and block VPN IP addresses. They satisfy licensing requirements without customer lawsuits. Everyone pretends the system works.
Michigan’s Failed Attempt
Wisconsin isn’t alone in technological ignorance:
Michigan Proposal:
Force internet service providers to actively monitor and block VPN connections. Require ISP level enforcement of VPN bans.
Why It Failed:
- ISPs opposed (implementation nightmare)
- First Amendment concerns (prior restraint)
- Technical impossibility of reliable detection
- Massive pushback from privacy advocates
Current Status:
Legislation did not advance through Michigan legislature. Died in committee.
Lifehack: Failed attempts create blueprints. Expect similar proposals in other states as politicians copy each other’s “solutions.”
Free Speech Legal Challenges
VPN bans face constitutional problems:
Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (June 2025):
Supreme Court ruled states can require age verification on adult sites. Justice Thomas framed it as “incidental burden” deserving intermediate scrutiny because “adults have no First Amendment right to avoid age verification.”
The Precedent:
This decision gives states confidence to escalate from age verification to VPN blocking.
First Amendment Issues:
- Making speech hard to access is equivalent to banning it
- Prior restraint concerns
- Overbreadth (affecting lawful adult access)
- Less restrictive alternatives available
Legal Uncertainty:
Courts haven’t definitively ruled on VPN ban constitutionality. Wisconsin’s bill would create test case litigation.
What’s Legal in America (Currently)
Before panic sets in, most VPN usage remains completely legal:
Legal Activities:
✓ Encrypting your internet connection
✓ Hiding your IP address from websites
✓ Avoiding ISP monitoring of browsing habits
✓ Protecting data on public WiFi
✓ Accessing work resources remotely
✓ Bypassing ISP throttling
No Federal Ban:
Despite state level attempts, VPNs remain legal federally. No nationwide prohibition exists or seems likely.
California Consumer Privacy Act:
Actually strengthens privacy protections. CCPA supports consumer privacy tools including VPNs.
Reality Check: For now, VPNs remain legal in all 50 states. Wisconsin’s bill hasn’t passed. But the trend is concerning.
How to Protect Yourself
If you live in states considering VPN restrictions:
Immediate Actions:
- Contact state senators and representatives
- Oppose bills like Wisconsin A.B. 105/S.B. 130
- Support EFF and digital rights organizations
- Educate others about privacy importance
Technical Preparations:
- Learn to use Tor Browser (harder to ban than VPNs)
- Set up encrypted DNS (1.1.1.1, 9.9.9.9)
- Consider self hosted VPN (harder to detect/block)
- Use browser privacy extensions
Legal Protections:
- Document your legitimate VPN usage
- Understand local laws before traveling
- Keep records of work related VPN necessity
- Consult lawyers if facing enforcement
The Global Landscape
VPN legality varies dramatically worldwide:
Fully Legal:
United States (federally), Canada, UK, most EU countries, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, most of Latin America
Restricted but Not Banned:
China (government approved only)
Russia (dozens of providers banned)
Turkey (some blocking/throttling)
UAE (monitored, corporate exemptions)
Completely Illegal:
North Korea, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Iraq
Grey Areas:
Oman (encryption without permission illegal)
Iran (severe restrictions, draft regulations)
Egypt (blocked during protests)
Power Move: Check local laws before international travel. Having a VPN installed on your device isn’t illegal but using it might be.
Enforcement Reality Check
Even in ban countries, enforcement is inconsistent:
China Example:
Despite heavy restrictions, VPN usage surged during COVID lockdowns and continues among tech savvy citizens. Government focuses enforcement on political dissidents, not everyone.
Russia Pattern:
Nearly 100 VPN apps removed from Apple App Store, yet usage increased during Ukraine war. Citizens seeking uncensored news overwhelm enforcement capability.
Iran Situation:
Government drafted 2022 regulation requiring permission. Citizens largely ignore it. Enforcement targets visible activists.
Insider Secret: Authoritarian governments can’t feasibly block all VPN traffic without breaking legitimate internet usage. They create chilling effects through selective enforcement.
The Censorship Slippery Slope
VPN bans never stop at stated justification:
Stated Purpose:
“Protecting children from harmful content”
Actual Implementation:
- News sites blocked (BBC in China)
- Social media platforms banned (Facebook, Twitter in multiple countries)
- Political opposition resources censored
- LGBTQ+ content labeled “harmful”
- Historical facts deemed “misinformation”
Brutal Truth: Once infrastructure exists to censor content and block privacy tools, governments expand usage beyond initial scope. Child safety rhetoric enables authoritarian control.
What You Can Actually Do
Passive concern accomplishes nothing. Take action:
Political Engagement:
- Contact Wisconsin senators immediately (if applicable)
- Oppose age verification and VPN restriction bills
- Vote for representatives supporting digital privacy
- Donate to EFF, Fight for the Future, digital rights groups
Technical Self Defense:
- Switch to privacy focused tools now (Tor, encrypted DNS)
- Learn to self host VPN on personal server
- Educate friends and family about privacy importance
- Use end to end encrypted messaging (Signal, not SMS)
Spread Awareness:
- Share EFF resources about VPN ban problems
- Explain technical impossibility of enforcement
- Connect privacy to other freedoms people value
- Counter “nothing to hide” arguments
The Bottom Line on VPN Legality
Privacy is not a loophole. It’s a right.
Current Reality:
VPNs remain legal in the US and most democratic countries. State level attempts haven’t succeeded federally.
Trajectory:
Politicians discovered age verification creates pretense for VPN bans. Expect more bills copying Wisconsin’s approach.
What’s at Stake:
Not just VPNs. The infrastructure to ban privacy tools enables comprehensive censorship and surveillance.
Your Move:
Stop assuming privacy rights are permanent. They’re under active attack by politicians who don’t understand technology they’re regulating.
Speak up now. Before VPN bans become normalized like they did in China, Russia, and Iran. Before “protecting children” becomes excuse for controlling everyone.
The EFF put it bluntly: “Attacks on VPNs are attacks on digital privacy and digital freedom. And this battle is being fought by people who clearly have no idea how any of this technology actually works.”
Don’t let technological illiteracy destroy your privacy rights.