'A liability trap' NordVPN slams Utah age verification law targeting VPN users

Date:
Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:03:07 +0000

Description:
Utah lawmakers are a step closer to enforcing a new age verification law that NordVPN warns could "punish all VPN users globally." Here's everything you need to know about the controversial bill.

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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter NordVPN warns rules of Utah's age verification bill on VPNs are unworkable
The bill was agreed on March 4, with enforcement expected in May 2026 NordVPN is now urging lawmakers to "pause and convene" with experts Utah lawmakers
are a step closer to restricting VPN usage in a way that NordVPN says would "punish lawful users who care about their privacy" across the globe.

The warning follows the passage of Utahs Online Age Verification Amendments formally Senate Bill 73 which cleared both chambers of the state legislature on Wednesday, March 4, With enforcement expected to begin in May 2026, the bill requires online service providers to age-gate content deemed harmful to minors. You may like 'A spectacularly bad idea' Digital rights advocates
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However, the legislation also makes companies liable for age-gating any user physically located in Utah, regardless of whether they are using a virtual private network or a proxy server .

NordVPN argues this creates an "unresolvable compliance paradox" for responsible operators. How the law targets VPN users (Image credit: Getty Images) Under the current text, any person physically located in Utah must undergo mandatory age checks to access adult-only content. Crucially, the law requires service providers to verify the age of users even when they use a
VPN or similar tool to spoof their geolocation.

The bill also prohibits commercial entities that host "a substantial portion of material harmful to minors" from facilitating or encouraging the use of VPNs to bypass these checks. This includes a ban on providing instructions on how to use such services to access their websites. NordVPN's resposne While VPN providers are not the primary targets of the law, NordVPN has strongly criticized the proposal as technically unworkable.

In a statement shared with TechRadar, the firm argued that blocking all known VPN and proxy IPs in Utah is "technically impossible" because providers constantly add new addresses and no comprehensive blocklist exists.

The VPN giant also warns that attempting to comply would have serious consequences for lawful users worldwide. As currently written, the bill does not appear to give adult sites the option to simply exit the Utah market to avoid the rules. What to read next Windscribe's CEO says the House of Lords VPN ban amendment is the 'dumbest possible fix' to child online safety debate 'The UK war on VPNs is an embarrassment' backlash grows over proposed VPN age-checks UK government may 'age restrict or limit childrens VPN use' following three-month consultation

Instead, the only remaining option appears to be age-verifying every visitor globally, regardless of their actual location. NordVPN warns this would subject "millions of users to invasive identity checks they have no legal obligation."

This isn't the first time US lawmakers have included provisions that impact VPN users in age verification bills. While Wisconsin recently scrapped
similar rules that would have effectively banned VPNs in the state, Utahs proposal is more far-reaching, with a potential impact that stretches beyond state lines.

While NordVPN supports the intent of protecting children online, it is now urging Utah legislators to pause and consult with experts before the May 2026 deadline.

The firm warns that good intentions written into "technically unenforceable law" fail to protect minors and instead "simply punish lawful users who care about their privacy, globally."

Ultimately, NordVPN argues that any legislation that cannot be complied with is not a workable measure. As the company puts it: "It is a liability trap." Today's best VPN deals NordVPN 2 Year $3.39 /mth View +3 months free
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/a-liability-trap-nordvpn-sl ams-utah-age-verification-law-targeting-vpn-users


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