- The Digital Frontier Basis urges Wisconsin lawmakers to oppose the age verification bill
- The proposal would power all grownup websites to block VPN connections
- Lawmakers are voting on the AB 105/SB 130 bill at this time
Wisconsin lawmakers are set to vote on a controversial age verification bill at this time, as digital rights advocates urge politicians to vote down the proposal.
In an open letter revealed Tuesday, the Digital Frontier Basis (EFF) described the laws as “a spectacularly bad thought.” The bill — formally Wisconsin AB 105/SB 130 — has been fueling backlash, notably due its provisions round the usage of VPN companies.
Underneath the proposed guidelines, any service supplier working in Wisconsin that “knowingly and deliberately” distributes materials deemed dangerous to minors can be required to block all VPN users.
Wisconsin age verification bill: What digital rights experts are saying
The EFF notes that the proposed rules regarding virtual private networks and similar circumvention software — specifically within section 100.76 (2)(c) — are “especially concerning.”
Experts point out that VPNs are not just used for bypassing filters, they are essential daily tools for students, remote workers, businesses, and law enforcement seeking basic digital security.
It remains unclear how lawmakers intend to enforce the blocking requirements. According to the EFF, blocking VPN users located in Wisconsin is “unworkable” from a technical standpoint because websites cannot reliably determine the true origin of a VPN connection.
“As a result, covered websites would face an impossible choice: either block all VPN users everywhere, disrupting access for millions of people nationwide, or cease offering services in Wisconsin altogether,” the EFF wrote.
The group also argues that these requirements are ultimately toothless. Experts believe users intent on bypassing the restrictions will simply switch to non-commercial VPNs, open proxies, or inexpensive virtual servers, rendering the law ineffective against those it aims to restrict.
The Wisconsin Senate is voting on S.B. 130/A.B. 105, a problematic age verification bill that effectively bans VPN access to certain websites. If you live in Wisconsin, now is the time for you to contact your State Senator and urge them to vote down this bill.…February 18, 2026
The danger to VPN use is just one side of the regulation that considerations digital rights specialists. In accordance to the EFF, the bill “creates extreme privateness and information safety dangers” by requiring on-line companies to acquire extremely delicate person information.
Like comparable age verification legal guidelines, this may power platforms to demand authorities ID scans, monetary particulars, or biometric information from their customers.
EFF notes that whereas the bill prohibits companies from “knowingly retaining” this data, it fails to forestall pointless information retention altogether. Consultants warn that this might lead to widespread abuses and information breaches if the delicate databases are focused by hackers.
Lastly, critics argue the bill’s definition of “dangerous to minors” is dangerously broad. As presently written, all sexually express content material should be age-gated whether it is deemed to lack severe literary, inventive, political, or scientific worth for minors.
Consultants imagine this imprecise standards “invitations over-censorship, chills lawful speech, and exposes companies to unpredictable enforcement.”
Wisconsin isn’t alone in its shift towards viewing VPNs as an impediment to implementing age verification slightly than an important safety device.
Across the Atlantic, the UK government is also exploring restrictions on children’s VPN use. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced plans to “close loopholes” that undermine online safety protections, potentially including age-gating VPN services themselves.
Digital rights advocates warn that these moves represent a significant shift in how democratic nations treat encryption. While such restrictions have historically been associated with authoritarian regimes, the current flurry of legislative activity suggests that a successful proposal in one region could provide a blueprint for similar restrictions worldwide.
We have contacted the EFF for additional comments and will update this page as more information becomes available.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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