As governments, including the French government, increasingly focus on regulating VPN usage, NordVPN stands firm in defending digital security and privacy. In an exclusive interview with Laura Tyrylyte, Global PR Director at Nord Security, the company emphasized the importance of not sacrificing privacy tools in the name of regulating access for minors.
The Challenges Facing VPN Amid Government Pressure
With growing political pressure in countries like France and the UK, which aim to restrict VPN use for minors or ban it entirely, NordVPN continues to voice its concerns. The company argues that targeting VPNs in the context of child protection online could backfire and compromise digital security. Laura Tyrylyte warned that laws focusing solely on "age verification" might infringe on privacy rights for adult users, affecting individuals, businesses, and journalists who rely on these tools to secure their data.
Balancing Child Protection and Privacy Protection
NordVPN fully supports protecting minors online but believes that there are more effective ways to achieve this without undermining security tools. Laura Tyrylyte pointed to the Australian age verification system as a successful example of restricting access to social media for minors without limiting access to VPN services. She also explained that social media platforms can verify user age and location through other means, such as data they already possess, not just IP addresses.
Risk of Free vs. Paid VPN Services
NordVPN strives to educate both governments and users about the difference between paid VPN services and free ones. Free VPN services may expose minors to greater risks, such as data collection and selling, annoying ads, or malware. In contrast, paid services like NordVPN guarantee user privacy and prevent access by minors through payment requirements that require parental consent.
Message to Policymakers
In conclusion, Laura Tyrylyte called on French and EU policymakers to find balanced solutions that protect minors from online dangers while preserving privacy rights for individuals and businesses. She stressed the importance of maintaining VPN tools as a means of safeguarding personal data and internet freedoms.