Utah’s New Law Targeting VPNs Goes Into Effect Next Week

Key Takeaways

• Utah's SB 73 bans sharing VPN instructions to bypass age checks
• Websites may need to block VPN IPs or verify all users globally
• Law creates liability trap, risking broader censorship of privacy tools
• Technical enforcement is impractical; VPN providers constantly add new IPs
• Precedent may inspire similar VPN restrictions in other states and countries

Pulse Analysis

Age‑verification mandates have become a flashpoint across the United States, prompting a surge in VPN adoption as users seek to protect their anonymity. States such as Florida, Texas and Missouri have already seen traffic spikes when required to verify users’ ages for adult content. The pattern illustrates a classic regulatory backlash: when governments impose intrusive checks, privacy‑focused tools like VPNs experience rapid growth, underscoring the tension between public policy and digital rights.

Utah’s SB 73 marks a departure from merely requiring age verification; it directly targets the privacy technology that enables users to bypass those checks. By deeming any physically present Utah resident subject to verification regardless of VPN use, and by prohibiting sites from offering VPN guidance, the law creates a “liability trap.” Companies could face lawsuits for failing to detect VPN users, pushing them toward blanket bans of VPN IP ranges or universal age‑verification prompts for all visitors, a costly and technically unfeasible solution.

The ripple effects extend beyond Utah’s borders. If the law survives legal challenges, other states may adopt similar provisions, and foreign regulators—already eyeing VPN restrictions in the UK and France—could cite Utah as a model. Such a trend would erode the foundational privacy infrastructure that underpins secure communications for journalists, businesses, and everyday citizens. Stakeholders must monitor the legal battles closely, as the outcome will shape the balance between governmental control and the right to online privacy nationwide.