Will U.S. States Really Ban VPNs?

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This week on Security Now, hosts Leo Laporte and Steve Gibson break down shocking new legislation in Wisconsin and Michigan that goes beyond age verification for online content—aiming to outright ban VPN access for all residents. These developments could dramatically reshape online privacy and security for millions of Americans, affecting businesses, students, and everyday users alike.

Why Are States Targeting VPNs?

Recently, several U.S. states passed laws requiring strong age verification for adult content online. Now, lawmakers in Wisconsin and Michigan are pushing the envelope even further. Not only do their new bills demand age checks—they require adult content sites to block access from any VPN provider, for any user, not just minors.

On Security Now, Steve Gibson explained that these bills stem from concerns that residents are using VPNs to evade new state-level restrictions by appearing to connect from somewhere else. The aim is to make state bans on explicit content “stick”—but the consequences go much further.

What’s Actually in the Proposed VPN Bans?

According to Steve Gibson and analysis from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), these new bills don’t just target kids. The Wisconsin and Michigan proposals would require websites that host adult material to block anyone using a VPN—period. That means no one in those states could use VPNs for any purpose on restricted sites, even legitimate business or privacy reasons.

Worse, Michigan’s more extreme version would force ISPs to actively block VPN usage and even ban the sale of VPN services outright.

These bills, officially called the "Anti Corruption of Public Morals Act", go far beyond age verification. They risk outlawing all encrypted traffic that obscures a user’s location—including VPNs, proxies, and possibly secure DNS queries.

How Could VPN Bans Impact You?

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are a fundamental privacy tool. They let users route internet traffic through encrypted channels, hiding location and protecting data from surveillance or hackers. Businesses use them to secure internal communications; students need them to access campus resources; journalists and activists rely on them for safety.

On Security Now, the hosts made clear that banning VPNs would cause serious harm: from crippling remote work and education, to endangering those who need privacy for personal safety.

Plus, this approach simply won’t work. Technical experts and the EFF cautioned that users intent on bypassing restrictions can always find alternate methods—whether home-built VPNs, proxies, or cloud servers. Trying to outlaw VPNs will hurt ordinary users, while doing little to stop determined individuals.

Key Takeaways

• Wisconsin and Michigan are proposing bills that would ban VPN use on adult sites—for all residents, not just minors.
• Businesses, students, journalists, and vulnerable groups all rely on VPNs for legitimate reasons.
• Blanket bans on VPNs could undermine data privacy, remote work, education, and cybersecurity.
• Technical workarounds will likely render such bans ineffective for those determined to bypass controls.
• The EFF and Security Now warn that lawmakers lack a strong understanding of how technologies like VPNs actually work.
• These bills could set dangerous precedents for digital privacy and freedom far beyond adult content regulation.
• A smarter approach would focus on education, empowering parents, and offering privacy-respecting age verification tools.

The Bottom Line

The push to ban VPNs in states like Wisconsin and Michigan could fundamentally break internet privacy and security—not just for residents, but for anyone doing business with these states. While the bills aim to protect minors online, their reach is far wider and could impact millions of users with no connection to adult content. As Security Now stressed, this fight is just beginning—and everyone who values digital privacy should pay close attention to what happens next.

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