It's official: Utah is the U.S. state closest to banning VPNs

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope of the Utah Law & Clickbait Concerns

  • Many note the title “closest to banning VPNs” is clickbait: the law does not outlaw VPNs.
  • It targets sites covered by Utah’s age‑verification rules:
    • They may not explain how to use VPNs to circumvent age checks.
    • They must enforce age verification for users physically in Utah, even if those users appear virtually elsewhere.
  • Some argue this “indirectly” pressures commercial VPNs to block Utah or weakens VPN utility; others say calling that “close to banning” is misleading.

Constitutionality and Free Speech

  • Numerous commenters see a clear First Amendment problem in banning sites from giving VPN circumvention info.
  • Others compare it to bans on counseling crimes; you can teach neutral skills but not instruct illegal acts.
  • There is skepticism that courts—especially the current Supreme Court—will reliably strike it down, particularly under “protect the children” rationales.
  • Chilling effects and the cost/time of litigation are seen as part of the harm even if parts are later invalidated.

Enforcement & Technical Feasibility

  • Several argue enforcement is technically impossible without undermining VPNs or mandating location leakage.
  • EFF’s position (linked) is cited: censorship will be trivially bypassed by savvy users via private tunnels, proxies, etc., while ordinary users and businesses suffer.
  • Others counter that relying on technical workarounds has lulled people into complacency; censorship elsewhere has had real effects.

Broader Surveillance and Age Verification Context

  • Many see this as one piece of a larger, coordinated, global move toward:
    • Mandatory age verification.
    • OS‑ or silicon‑level identity binding.
    • An internet where anonymity is effectively gone and states can mass‑monitor with AI.
  • Some label this an existential threat to civil liberties; others point to earlier structural threats (e.g., money in politics) as at least as serious.

Federalism, Mobility, and Utah Politics

  • One camp praises US federalism: 50 policy “experiments” and the option to move.
  • Others stress moving is financially and socially prohibitive for many; coordinated model bills across states reduce real choice.
  • Utah is described as a mix of:
    • Attractive landscapes and some pro‑freedom policies (e.g., “free‑range parenting”).
    • A dominant conservative/religious political culture that has overridden voter initiatives (medical marijuana, redistricting).

Impacts and Proposed Responses

  • Expected collateral damage: businesses, journalists, and abuse survivors relying on VPN privacy.
  • Some advocate:
    • Geoblocking Utah to force backlash.
    • Legal challenges and donations to digital‑rights groups.
    • Political engagement rather than assuming technology alone can “route around” bad laws.