New data shows that internet and communications regulator Ofcom has almost tripled the amount it spends on monitoring public use of Virtual Private Networks. Vital tools for circumventing the excesses of the draconian Online Safety Act…
A Freedom of Information response reveals Ofcom has spent almost £500,000 on monitoring how many people use VPNs since 2022. Spending has more than doubled in the lead up to and implementation of the OSA:
- 2022/23: £111,118.81
- 2023/24: £97,834.26
- 2024/25: £264,348.55
Such data would be vital to any government attempting to justify a crackdown on the software, which digital campaigners the Open Rights Group say are “an important cybersecurity tool for businesses, politicians, journalists and members of the public.” Government guidance has long recommended using them…
In 2022 Labour supported an amendment to the Online Safety Act which would “require the Secretary of State to publish, within six months of the Bill’s passage, a report on the effect of VPN use on Ofcom’s ability to enforce the requirements under clause 112. If VPNs cause significant issues, the Government must identify those issues and find solutions, rather than avoiding difficult problems.” A crackdown…
Ofcom says of its monitoring effort: “The work was undertaken to analyse the impact of the introduction of age assurance online. This is foundational work to assessing compliance, the efficacy of age assurance and to understanding the impacts on users’ safety online.” I.e. it wants to make sure VPN use doesn’t get too high – more regulation to follow…
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