A Utah age verification law targeting VPN users goes into effect this week
Utah is poised to become the first U.S. state to explicitly target VPN usage in its age verification legislation. Senate Bill 73, the Online Age Verification Amendments, takes effect on May 6, 2026, marking a significant escalation in the nation’s approach to online age verification.
The law represents a notable shift in how states are tackling age verification for online services. Rather than focusing solely on account-level verification, Utah’s approach directly addresses circumvention methods like VPNs, which users might employ to bypass age restrictions. This distinguishes it from other pending age verification measures, such as California’s law requiring age verification at operating system setup, which takes effect next year.
Utah’s move comes as part of a broader national push toward mandatory age verification systems. The “Parents Decide Act” is being considered at the federal level, potentially introducing similar requirements across the entire country. These legislative efforts reflect growing government attention to protecting minors from age-restricted content online.
However, the legislation raises important questions among digital rights experts and privacy advocates. The targeting of VPNs specifically—tools commonly used for legitimate privacy protection—has drawn scrutiny regarding potential impacts on user privacy and circumvention of the law’s intent. Security researchers have long documented concerns about how age verification systems are being implemented, including data collection practices and potential security vulnerabilities.
The timing is critical, with the law set to take effect in just days. Its implementation will likely set a precedent for other states considering similar approaches and could influence the shape of federal legislation. How Utah’s law performs in practice, including any legal challenges it may face, could significantly impact the future landscape of online age verification in the United States.