Police take down VPN service (this time with a good reason)

Governments and law enforcers face concerns about broader efforts to restrict VPN use. Legislations have targeted internet access, including measures aimed at limiting minors’ access to social media and other sites authorities deem inappropriate. Australia has enacted such a law, and the UK is considering similar steps. VPN providers have opposed restrictions, arguing VPNs help preserve the internet as a free and open service and support regular business activities for enterprises. Mozilla states that blunt interventions like mandatory age assurance and limiting access to VPNs do not improve protection for young people online and instead weaken fundamental rights. In the US, restrictions on VPNs are likely to conflict with the First Amendment, making proposed bans such as one in Utah unlikely to succeed.

"Blunt interventions like mandatory age assurance and restricting access to tools like VPNs are not effective in improving the protection afforded to young people online, while undermining the fundamental rights of all users."

"Various legislations have tried to implement new laws restricting access to the internet, in particular, those seeking to limit minors from accessing social media and other sites deemed inappropriate by authorities."

"VPNs providers have fought back, claiming that their offerings are a vital tool in the preservation of the internet as a free and open service - and in securing regular business activities for many enterprises."

"Any restrictions against VPNs in the US are likely to fall foul of the First Amendment. Attempts by lawmakers to prohibit their use, such as the one proposed in Utah, are looking unlikely to succeed."

Read at Computerworld