It's official: Utah is the U.S. state closest to banning VPNs
Utah's Senate Bill 73, effective May 6, effectively restricts VPN usage by prohibiting websites from discussing VPNs and holding them liable for age verification failures regardless of users' virtual locations, creating significant operational and legal challenges for digital businesses. IT organizations must prepare for escalating regulatory fragmentation as states implement age verification laws that conflict with privacy protections, potentially requiring either invasive universal age-gating systems or technically difficult VPN-blocking infrastructure. This precedent signals broader regulatory pressure on internet infrastructure and privacy tools, with inevitable legal challenges that will reshape how organizations approach user authentication, data privacy, and compliance across state jurisdictions.
Utah's Senate Bill 73, effective May 6, effectively restricts VPN usage by prohibiting websites from discussing VPNs and holding them liable for age verification failures regardless of users' virtual locations, creating significant operational and legal challenges for digital businesses. IT organizations must prepare for escalating regulatory fragmentation as states implement age verification laws that conflict with privacy protections, potentially requiring either invasive universal age-gating systems or technically difficult VPN-blocking infrastructure. This precedent signals broader regulatory pressure on internet infrastructure and privacy tools, with inevitable legal challenges that will reshape how organizations approach user authentication, data privacy, and compliance across state jurisdictions.
