GMail will use your data to train AI (ie. read all your private emails)

[HillBill]

I heard on the radio this morning that Labour plan on making VPNs illegal in the UK.

How would they know you were using one? Not sure how they could enforce it given the nature of what VPN's are.

 

[hughtrimble]

How would they know you were using one? Not sure how they could enforce it given the nature of what VPN's are.

It's very easy to tell if you're using a VPN as the traffic is encrypted. So ISP sees encryption > report to authorities. But do note that that wasn't the proposal being made, it was actually an age restriction on VPNs that was proposed.

 

[hughtrimble]

But do note it's really easy to make it harder for ISPs to know you're using a VPN! This is what I mean about it being tokenistic.

 

[ONE]

But do note it's really easy to make it harder for ISPs to know you're using a VPN! This is what I mean about it being tokenistic.

As far as commercial providers go it come down to the payment side, they make your bank liable for ensuring you cannot purchase VPN/Proxy provision without positive ID. What we're looking at effectively, is an internet loicnce. Which will make the 'Mericans laugh.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I heard on the radio this morning that Labour plan on making VPNs illegal in the UK.

Your radio picks up broadcasts from June 2025 when we're near the end of February 2026?

 

[Falstaff]

Apparently still on the table, as is the 16 yr-old voting that I thought had been dropped. Starmer on Radio 4 today speaking in favour of it - maybe an old recording?

 

[hughtrimble]

As far as commercial providers go it come down to the payment side, they make your bank liable for ensuring you cannot purchase VPN/Proxy provision without positive ID. What we're looking at effectively, is an internet loicnce. Which will make the 'Mericans laugh.

I'd imagine they'd push for age verification at point of VPN access or suchlike rather than make the banks liable.

 

[Falstaff]

I'd imagine they'd push for age verification at point of VPN access or suchlike rather than make the banks liable.

The banks are already liable, under the banking rules, and pushing id hard, as they are scared of big fines by the regulator. Also for the same reason, preferring to close accounts that make overseas payments.

 

[Chris]

Sensible thing would be if we could add verification via anonymous tokens from phones - this is already used in the US for some passports and driving licenses. You verify your age on your phone, then use your digital wallet to create a token which you give to the service asking you to verify your age, which verifies your age without needing to pass on your personal details to the service you are verifying your age with.

This would allow anonymity with VPN providers as they could verify your age, update a marker on your account to say 'verified' and then delete the token you sent them. It would also stop under 18s from accessing the services unless an adult gives them the means to do so, which will always be impossible to prevent.

 

[hughtrimble]

The banks are already liable, under the banking rules, and pushing id hard, as they are scared of big fines by the regulator. Also for the same reason, preferring to close accounts that make overseas payments.

I don't think I understand. I have bought many things over the years which were age restricted, or required a licence, and not once has my bank or indeed any payment system blocked anything awaiting ID confirmation or the like. Can you explain what you mean by your comments e.g. with a worked example?

 

[Falstaff]

I don't think I understand. I have bought many things over the years which were age restricted, or required a licence, and not once has my bank or indeed any payment system blocked anything awaiting ID confirmation or the like. Can you explain what you mean by your comments e.g. with a worked example?

To date they have largely placed the liability on the supplier, and you are not under 18. It depends upon the internal banking rules, which are largely confidential. e.g. there is a floating transaction value above which banks have to notify the Regulator & also certain types of transactions
At the moment, as far as I am aware, there are no rules in place regarding reporting obtaining specific products or suppliers, but there might be. I would be surprised if there is not something relating to explosives etc.
If an offshore VPN provider cannot or will not play ball with the Govt. then they might be placed on the naughty list.

 

[HorseGuy]

Your radio picks up broadcasts from June 2025 when we're near the end of February 2026?

It was on Radio X.