Prominent backbench MP Sarah Champion launched a campaign against VPNs previously, saying: “My new clause 54 would require the Secretary of State to publish, within six months of the Bill’s passage, a report on the effect of VPN use on Ofcom’s ability to enforce the requirements under clause 112.

"If VPNs cause significant issues, the Government must identify those issues and find solutions, rather than avoiding difficult problems.” And the Labour Party said there were “gaps” in the bill that needed to be amended.

  • muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    If they outlaw VPNs then all internet-connected businesses will flee and everyone will just move to the dark net. Then you’ve got a whole other problem.

    These ancient tyrants are in over their heads.

    • PastafARRian@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 day ago

      Selfishly, I think this is great for I2P/Snowflake/Tor. The incoming legitimate traffic helps to protect its most vulnerable users.

    • Pacattack57@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Honest question but what makes you think that would happen? Do most businesses use VPNs?

      • skisnow@lemmy.ca
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        20 hours ago

        VPNs are one of the core security measures of all large companies.

        VPNs aren’t just a “hide your IP” tool, they’re a way of giving someone access to an organisation’s internal network. Sensitive servers such as databases, wikis, scheduling tools etc don’t have publicly exposed IPs, they only have connections that are accessible from inside that VPN. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_in_depth_(computing)

        • Blemgo@lemmy.world
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          14 hours ago

          Not only that, but they are crucial for network security. VPNs allow all network traffic (with a few necessary exceptions) to be routed through the company’s network and benefit from its security measures, mainly monitoring traffic for suspicious and malicious behaviour. Without it, finding compromised PCs is much harder and enforcing company policies regarding web use would be impossible outside the office.

      • muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works
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        23 hours ago

        Damn near every business uses VPN technology. They literally cannot exist in the modern world without it. It would be incredibly expensive and impractical to do without.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      The UK has long championed writing legislative checks that their emaciated state infrastructure can’t cash.

    • LinyosT@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      If they do outlaw it will likely be banned solely for non-business use for this reason alone.