Why did Wisconsin lawmakers remove the VPN ban?

Lawmakers removed the VPN ban from the age-verification legislation after facing criticism and pushback from the public and advocacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

What impact did advocacy groups have on Wisconsin's VPN ban?

Groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation successfully argued against the VPN ban, highlighting its negative impact on secure internet access for many users and its impracticality.

Home / Technology / Wisconsin Senate Backtracks on VPN Ban

Wisconsin Senate Backtracks on VPN Ban

Q: What was the purpose of Wisconsin's age-verification bill?

The bill aimed to prohibit businesses from distributing material harmful to minors without a reasonable method to verify users' ages.

21 Feb

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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.