Wisconsin Lawmakers have introduced A.B.105/S.B.130. This bill bans the use of VPNs and requires ID verification for websites that contain "material harmful to minors." As of 11/18/25, the Assembly has passed this bill and is now headed to the State Senate for a vote, and if passed then to the Governor's desk.
If you do not know what a VPN, short for virtual private network, is, let me explain. A VPN is a server you connect to in order to mask your IP, short for internet protocol, address anywhere you are connecting on the internet. When you connect to the internet without a VPN, any servers you connect to can tell exactly where you are located. When you connect to a VPN, they will get the location of the VPN server, and your real location is protected. On top of that, VPNs also encrypt your connection, protecting your data and making it more difficult for hackers to intercept.
There are many uses for a VPN. Two huge ones include protecting your privacy and protecting your data. Another huge use for VPNs is many businesses require them for employers to access their networks and databases. Certain educational institutions also may require them to access educational resources and databases. Many government agencies themselves use VPNs. As there are more uses, these listed are some of the main ones.
With the way "material harmful to minors" is described in the bill, it is vague. This allows an array of websites to be covered which lawmakers did not intent to cover and will likely continue to expand as the definition will in the future. To give an example, this description is broad enough that an educational website showcasing a detailed diagram of the human body could be required to van VPNs and require ID verification.
Part of the bill says that these websites "may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual’s access has been granted or denied." Many times, websites will use third-party services to process the data of its users, which they have no control over. Even websites which process the data on their own may unknowingly have kept such data, or hackers could intercept your data in transit if you aren't using a VPN. Constantly, hackers are breaching into databases, stealing data, and selling it on the dark web, including pictures of IDs used in age verification systems.
Government intervention is not the solution, it is the problem. Politicians should not look to expand the government and restrict the liberty of its citizens to achieve social goals. That is the opposite of the principles of which the United States was founded on. The government can protect its citizens without relying on privacy-destroying methods.
When government expands, it rarely gives away the powers it grants itself. This bill is just one step in eroding more liberties and privacy from citizens, expanding the surveillance state, and making it easier for surveillance capitalism to thrive. This can easily lead to chat control, age verification to use social media, anti-crypto, and other anti-liberty measures being taken like we are seeing happen in the European Union, such as a complete ban on VPNs in their entirety, all in the name of "protecting the children," the same excuse used repeatedly when taking away citizen's liberties. All of your data, if legislation passes regarding such measures, will be shared with the government if inquired upon. Also, like we saw in the Snowden Files, the government can pressure entities to build a back door to access your data. Any time the government requires you to share personal data to access online services, more virtual places are created for your data to be stolen and shared with third parties and the government.
Looking at the votes taken from the Assembly to pass this bill, six did not vote: Representatives Allen, Doyle, Goodwin, Maxey, Vining, and Zimmermin. Representative Sortwell paired nay and Representative Penterman paired aye. All of the Republicans who did vote voted aye, while the Democrats were nearly halfway split.
Something this situation shows is that lawmakers do not understand the implications of bills like this (or perhaps some do but won't admit what this is leading to). The legislature would benefit from a Gen-Z representative, or at the very least someone who has technical expertise.
Next time you see your legislator, ask them if they know what a virtual private network is. If they say no and they voted yes to ban them, ask them why they did so without understanding what they were voting on.
Wisconsinites, it is time to contact your State Senators and tell them to vote against S.B.130 to protect the liberty and privacy of their constituents.
