France Plans to Restrict VPN Use for Social Media Bans
The French government is considering restricting VPN services that could be used to circumvent its planned social media ban for individuals under the age of 15.
New Measures on the Agenda
A bill voted on in France's National Assembly last week, which would ban individuals under 15 from accessing social media platforms, has sparked debates. While the bill awaits discussion in the country's Senate, government officials have stated that additional steps may be necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the ban.
VPNs in the Crosshairs
In a radio interview, Deputy Minister for AI and Digital Affairs Anne Le Hénanff indicated that virtual private network (VPN) services could be the next target. Le Hénanff said, "If this legislation gives us the ability to protect a very large majority of children, we will continue. And VPNs are the next item on my list."
VPNs allow users to bypass geographical restrictions or access blocks by encrypting their internet traffic and making it appear as if they are connecting from a different location. Therefore, they have the potential to render the proposed social media ban in France ineffective.
The Privacy and Security Dilemma
Experts warn that potential restrictions on VPN use could undermine one of these services' core functions: providing online privacy and security. VPNs are used in many areas, from establishing secure connections on public Wi-Fi networks to protecting sensitive data.
An increase in VPN usage was also observed in the United Kingdom, where similar age verification laws have been passed. This situation shows that laws intended for protection can have unintended consequences.
A Global Trend
The developments in France are part of a global trend of legal regulations aimed at protecting children and young people from the potential harms of social media. For example, in the US, age verification laws have been proposed at the state level in 25 states over the past two years. However, these laws also bring new privacy concerns due to the lack of a standardized approach to how user data will be collected and protected.
Critics express concern that the proposals in France could shift from protective measures towards an authoritarian direction. In an era where data breaches at large companies are frequent, the security of personal data collected for the age verification process also emerges as a separate topic of debate.
Following the discussions in the French Senate, the final form of both the social media ban and possible VPN restrictions will become clear. This process could set a global example for how to balance online security, individual freedoms, and the state's protective role. Such regulations also contrast with approaches like Firefox's AI shutdown button, which aims to increase user control over platforms.
