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> they are discussing restricting VPN access for 'child protection' Just like with encryption, there will always be an idiot politician somewhere discussing ba

> they are discussing restricting VPN access for 'child protection' Just like with encryption, there will always be an idiot politician somewhere discussing banning it. Mr Google tells me, for example, that lawmakers in Michigan (US) recently proposed " Anticorruption of Public Morals Act" which contained VPN banning clauses. Frankly, until such time as it actually NEARS, let alone BECOMES legislation, the only thing posts such as yours are doing is spreading FUD. The clue is in the URL you post "thinktank". It not even EU parliament, let alone been through the parliament debates, let alone passed to votes, let alone passed to being implemented by member states .... its just a random idea someone wrote down. And quite frankly, I would still much rather be in the EU's digital environment than that of the US.

AlecSchueler 5mo ago
Not only that but if you actually read the linked document it isn't calling for a VPN ban. It's a general report on what VPNs are and how they're perceived by various bodies. It does make reference to the UK Child Safety Commissioner's suggestion that they should be restricted to adult use only but it also talks about how essential they are for business etc. On the whole it's quite balanced and the existence of such a report seems very reasonable.
- fp64 5mo ago
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fp64 5mo ago
> its just a random idea someone wrote down. It's a result from the "European Parliamentary Research Service", hosted on the official website of the European parliament. And it is fully inline with recent attempted and success legislation of the same parliament. I am not sure why you would call this a "random idea" and an established member of the Parliamentary Research Service as "someone".
- blipvert 5mo ago
  Research. Not implementation.
  - fp64 5mo ago
    My understanding is that the research service is providing legislation with research to inform them on how to implement. What is your claim? That the parliamentary research service is just a bunch of people writing documents nobody cares about and if you look just long enough you will find for each of their results something that claims the opposite?
    - traceroute66 5mo ago
      > My understanding is that the research service is providing legislation with research to inform them on how to implement. Dude, just go read the damn website. The research service does not operate on its own volition. An MEP requests a piece of research to assist them in their parliamentary work because they require independent, objective and authoritative analysis of a topic. Please stop with the damn conspiracy theories. Sheesh. A random MEP asked for this research. The MEP may or may not ever table anything based on the research. Ergo, it may or may not ever progress into the parliamentary debate, let alone votes, let alone member state implementation. Its just RESEARCH. Stop with the FUD.
      - fp64 5mo ago
        I am not aware I was spreading conspiracy theories, and I do not understand why you have to be so aggressive and simultaneously defensive. An independent, objective, and authoritative analysis requested by a MEP speculates that a restriction or ban on VPN is likely. I think this is valuable information. You are saying this is worth nothing until it actually gets up to a vote. I disagree, I see your point and maybe it's fine to panic only when it actually comes to a vote, but I prefer to know what to expect, and what the Research Service considers an "independent, objective, and authoritative analysis" on this topic.

AlecSchueler 5mo ago

Not only that but if you actually read the linked document it isn't calling for a VPN ban. It's a general report on what VPNs are and how they're perceived by various bodies. It does make reference to the UK Child Safety Commissioner's suggestion that they should be restricted to adult use only but it also talks about how essential they are for business etc. On the whole it's quite balanced and the existence of such a report seems very reasonable.

fp64 5mo ago
[dead]

fp64 5mo ago

> its just a random idea someone wrote down. It's a result from the "European Parliamentary Research Service", hosted on the official website of the European parliament. And it is fully inline with recent attempted and success legislation of the same parliament. I am not sure why you would call this a "random idea" and an established member of the Parliamentary Research Service as "someone".

blipvert 5mo ago
Research. Not implementation.
- fp64 5mo ago
  My understanding is that the research service is providing legislation with research to inform them on how to implement. What is your claim? That the parliamentary research service is just a bunch of people writing documents nobody cares about and if you look just long enough you will find for each of their results something that claims the opposite?
  - traceroute66 5mo ago
    > My understanding is that the research service is providing legislation with research to inform them on how to implement. Dude, just go read the damn website. The research service does not operate on its own volition. An MEP requests a piece of research to assist them in their parliamentary work because they require independent, objective and authoritative analysis of a topic. Please stop with the damn conspiracy theories. Sheesh. A random MEP asked for this research. The MEP may or may not ever table anything based on the research. Ergo, it may or may not ever progress into the parliamentary debate, let alone votes, let alone member state implementation. Its just RESEARCH. Stop with the FUD.
    - fp64 5mo ago
      I am not aware I was spreading conspiracy theories, and I do not understand why you have to be so aggressive and simultaneously defensive. An independent, objective, and authoritative analysis requested by a MEP speculates that a restriction or ban on VPN is likely. I think this is valuable information. You are saying this is worth nothing until it actually gets up to a vote. I disagree, I see your point and maybe it's fine to panic only when it actually comes to a vote, but I prefer to know what to expect, and what the Research Service considers an "independent, objective, and authoritative analysis" on this topic.