Wisconsin Age Verification Bill Seeks to Block VPN Access to Adult Content

Wisconsin Moves to Restrict VPN Access to Adult Content

Wisconsin lawmakers are advancing legislation that would make it illegal to access adult-oriented websites using virtual private networks if a proposed age verification law passes, according to reports. The bill, known as Wisconsin AB 105/SB 130, has already cleared debate in the Assembly and had its first Senate public hearing on October 8, sources indicate.

Legislative Details and Similar Proposals

The proposed legislation would require all service providers operating in Wisconsin that “knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material harmful to minors on the Internet” to prevent VPN access to their content. This approach echoes a recent proposal in Michigan, where lawmakers introduced legislation that would not only force internet service providers to monitor and block VPN connections but also ban the promotion or sale of circumvention tools, analysts suggest.

According to the legislative text available through the Wisconsin Legislature’s website, the bill aims to close what some officials describe as a “loophole” in age verification systems. The full documentation of SB 130 can be reviewed in the official PDF, while the Assembly version AB 105 is detailed in the legislative records.

Growing International Trend

The report states that as mandatory age verification spreads both within and outside the United States, consumers have increasingly turned to VPN services to bypass these checks and protect their sensitive information. In the United Kingdom, England’s children’s commissioner has similarly described VPNs as “a loophole that needs closing,” indicating a broader international trend toward restricting circumvention tools.

Technical Challenges and Privacy Concerns

Technical experts question how websites could practically implement the proposed VPN blocking requirement. Since VPNs mask users’ real IP addresses and locations, websites can only see spoofed information, making it virtually impossible to determine whether a user is actually connecting from Wisconsin, according to technical analyses.

Christine Bannan, US Public Policy Manager at Proton, commented on similar legislation in Michigan, stating: “We don’t want to be forced to track content, nor do we want our users to accept having their information tracked. We don’t wanna be a tool of blocking, and that’s the bigger risk.”

Potential Consequences

If implemented, the legislation could have several significant impacts according to digital rights advocates:

Privacy Concerns: Wisconsin residents would need to share biometrics, IDs, and credit card details without VPN encryption protection
Overblocking: Adult sites might be forced to block all VPN users globally rather than just those from Wisconsin
Definition Issues: The bill doesn’t clearly specify whether social media platforms with adult content would be included
Content Judgment: It remains unclear who would determine what constitutes “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value” for minors

Broader Context and Industry Response

Digital rights organizations have launched initiatives like the Defend VPNs Day of Action to push back against such legislation. Meanwhile, as this debate unfolds, other technology sectors continue to evolve, with recent developments including AI digital technology funding, AI’s impact on education costs, and significant semiconductor industry financial reports.

Lawmakers continue to address numerous open questions as the bill progresses through the legislative process. TechRadar reportedly reached out to politicians working on the legislation but had not received responses at the time of their publication.

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