Home / Technology / Wisconsin Senate Backtracks on VPN Ban
Wisconsin Senate Backtracks on VPN Ban
21 Feb
Summary
- Wisconsin lawmakers dropped a VPN ban from age-verification legislation.
- The proposed law aimed to block VPNs to protect minors online.
- Advocacy groups celebrated the reversal, citing public pressure.
Wisconsin lawmakers have reversed their decision to ban Virtual Private Network (VPN) services as part of an age-verification law. The legislation, introduced in March 2025, initially aimed to prevent businesses from distributing material harmful to minors without robust age verification. A controversial provision would have required businesses to block access via VPNs.
State Sen. Van Wanggaard moved to delete the VPN ban, a move supported by the state assembly. This reversal is seen as a win for digital freedom advocates, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). The EFF argued that blocking VPNs would negatively impact businesses, universities, journalists, and ordinary citizens who rely on them for secure internet access.
The EFF also pointed out the practical difficulties of implementing such a ban, stating that websites cannot reliably determine VPN users' locations. Blocking all VPN users would disrupt millions nationwide and potentially lead businesses to cease operations in Wisconsin. This situation echoes similar legislative attempts in other states, such as Michigan's proposed Anticorruption of Public Morals Act.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is expected to sign the revised bill into law. The decision highlights the impact of public advocacy and expert testimony on legislative outcomes, ensuring that VPNs remain accessible for various legitimate uses.
