Birmingham Live reported on June 18, 2026, that a new update regarding Virtual Private Network (VPN) regulations is being considered. The article notes that all age groups could be at risk from these proposed rules.
Josh MacAlister, the Labour Party children's minister, told the BBC on June 18, 2026, that there are options available regarding whether VPN use could be 'age-gated.'
According to Birmingham Live, Josh MacAlister stated he would find such measures 'really welcome' as they aim to curb usage for under-16s.
The proposed restrictions are described in the report as part of sweeping changes that include a social media ban. The article was published with an updated timestamp of 15:45 on June 18, 2026.
It is reported by Birmingham Live that if these restrictions were implemented in 2026, they would impact children born between 2010 and 2026. The report indicates this timeline assumes the regulations came into force 'in this year,' referring to 2026.
According to Birmingham Live, the Labour Party government has yet to confirm any VPN restrictions as of June 18, 2026. Liz K is mentioned in the source text regarding these developments but no further attribution or statement from her is provided within the available notes.