In a significant reversal amid widespread criticism, Wisconsin lawmakers have removed a controversial provision from a proposed age-verification bill that would have banned the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access online content deemed harmful to minors. The change came after advocacy groups and tech experts raised alarms about the potential overreach of the measure, which could have disrupted internet access for millions. Senate Bill 130, along with its companion Assembly Bill 105, was introduced in March 2025 and seeks to require businesses to implement reasonable age-verification methods before allowing access to material that could be harmful to children.
The original draft of the legislation included a clause mandating that websites block users attempting to access such content through VPN services. VPNs, which create encrypted connections to the internet, are widely used to mask IP addresses, bypass geographic restrictions, and protect user privacy by hiding browsing activity from internet service providers. According to the bill's text, this provision aimed to prevent circumvention of age checks, but critics argued it would impose impractical burdens on websites and infringe on legitimate online freedoms.
Wisconsin State Senator Van Wanggaard, a Republican from Racine, took the lead in striking the VPN ban from the bill during Senate deliberations. His motion to delete the provision passed, and the state Assembly followed suit, agreeing to the amendment. As of this week, the revised bill now heads to Governor Tony Evers' desk for his expected signature, clearing the path for the law to take effect without the VPN restriction.
The decision marks a victory for digital rights advocates who mobilized quickly against the proposal. Rindala Alajaji, associate director of state affairs at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit focused on online privacy and civil liberties, called the reversal "great news." In an interview with CNET, Alajaji emphasized the role of public input, stating, "This shows the power of public advocacy and pushback. Politicians heard the VPN users who shared their worries and fears, and the experts who explained how the ban wouldn't work."
The EFF had been vocal in its opposition even before the bill's introduction gained traction. Earlier this week, the organization sent an open letter to Wisconsin lawmakers, arguing that the VPN provision failed to meaningfully protect young people online while posing serious risks to broader internet users. The letter highlighted how VPNs are essential tools for various groups, including businesses securing remote work, universities facilitating research, journalists protecting sources, and everyday citizens safeguarding their data.
"Many law enforcement professionals, veterans and small business owners rely on VPNs to safely use the internet," the EFF wrote in its letter. It further contended that requiring websites to block VPN users was "unworkable," as sites cannot reliably pinpoint a user's true location when masked by such technology, which could originate from any U.S. state or foreign country.
This dilemma, according to the EFF, would force websites into an untenable position: either universally block VPN traffic and alienate millions of users across the nation or pull their services from Wisconsin entirely to avoid liability. The nonprofit's advocacy appears to have resonated, as the swift amendment suggests lawmakers were responsive to these technical and practical concerns.
The pushback wasn't limited to the EFF. Tech publications and user communities online decried the proposal as an overbroad attempt to enforce content restrictions, potentially chilling free expression and innovation. VPN usage has surged in recent years, particularly as more states enact age-verification laws for adult websites. These tools allow users to appear as if they are browsing from locations without such mandates, though experts warn that free VPN services often come with security risks, serving as hotspots for cybercriminals.
For context, age-verification legislation has been proliferating across the U.S. as lawmakers grapple with balancing child protection and adult access to online material. Proponents argue that verifying ages—through methods like government ID uploads or third-party services—can shield minors from explicit content. However, opponents, including the EFF, contend that such laws drive users toward less secure alternatives and fail to address the root causes of online harms, like inadequate parental controls or platform accountability.
Wisconsin's bill specifically targets "material harmful to minors," a category that could encompass pornography, violence, or other sensitive topics, though definitions remain somewhat vague in the legislation. Businesses failing to comply could face penalties, though specifics on enforcement were not detailed in the sources reviewed. The removal of the VPN clause alleviates one major point of contention, but the core age-verification requirement stands, potentially setting a precedent for other states.
This isn't the first time VPNs have come under fire in efforts to regulate online content. Last year, Michigan introduced the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act, a far more sweeping proposal that would outright ban all VPN usage within the state. If enacted, the Michigan bill would compel internet service providers to detect and block VPN traffic, while also prohibiting the sale of VPN software. Violators could face fines of up to $500,000, a penalty that drew immediate backlash from privacy advocates who labeled it draconian and unenforceable.
While Michigan's measure remains stalled in committee, it underscores a growing tension between state-level content controls and the borderless nature of the internet. In Wisconsin, the reversal may encourage similar backpedaling elsewhere, as lawmakers weigh the political costs of alienating tech-savvy constituents against the optics of child safety initiatives. Governor Evers, a Democrat who has supported education and family-focused policies, is likely to sign the bill, though his office has not yet commented on the VPN amendment specifically.
Beyond the immediate policy shift, the episode highlights the evolving role of VPNs in digital life. With remote work normalized post-pandemic and cyber threats on the rise, these services have become indispensable for secure browsing. CNET's testing of top VPN providers for 2026 underscores their reliability, recommending paid options over free ones to avoid data leaks and malware. As age-restriction laws multiply— with at least a dozen states considering similar bills this year—users may increasingly turn to VPNs, ironically fueling the very circumvention these measures aim to prevent.
Experts like Alajaji predict that public advocacy will continue to shape these debates. "The worries and fears" of everyday VPN users, she noted, played a key role in Wisconsin's about-face, demonstrating how grassroots voices can influence tech policy. For now, Wisconsin's internet users can breathe easier, knowing their privacy tools remain protected under the revised law.
Looking ahead, the bill's passage could prompt legal challenges from free speech groups, testing the boundaries of state authority over online access. Meanwhile, in Appleton and across the Badger State, families and educators await clearer guidelines on how age verification will be implemented without unduly burdening legitimate online activities. As the digital landscape shifts, this reversal serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between protection and freedom in the internet age.