'A technical whack-a-mole:' Utah to become the first US state to target VPN users with controversial age verification law — and digital rights experts are furious
Utah's Senate Bill 73, set to take effect on May 6, 2026, will require adult websites to verify the age of users physically in the state, holding companies liable even if users access content via a VPN. Digital rights groups and VPN providers argue the law misunderstands technology and creates unworkable compliance challenges, potentially undermining online privacy and free speech. The legislation marks the first U.S. state effort to directly target VPN use for bypassing age verification, sparking broader concerns about global trends restricting online anonymity.
- ▪Utah's Senate Bill 73 will hold websites liable for failing to age-verify users physically located in Utah, even if they use a VPN to mask their location.
- ▪The law prohibits websites hosting material deemed harmful to minors from providing instructions on using VPNs to bypass age checks.
- ▪The Electronic Frontier Foundation criticizes the law as a 'technical whack-a-mole' and a threat to free speech and internet privacy.
- ▪NordVPN and other privacy advocates warn that the law creates an unresolvable compliance paradox and could penalize legitimate privacy-conscious users.
- ▪Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill into law on March 19, 2026, making Utah the first U.S. state to enforce such restrictions on VPN use.
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VPN VPN Privacy & Security 'A technical whack-a-mole:' Utah to become the first US state to target VPN users with controversial age verification law — and digital rights experts are furious News By Rene Millman published 1 May 2026 Utah's Senate Bill 73 is set to take effect on May 6, 2026 When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Image credit: Shutterstock (Image credit: mj0007/via Getty Images) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Utah to hold firms liable for failing to age-verify users, even if they use a VPNSenate Bill 73 is set to take effect on May 6,…
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