Utah first state to hold websites liable for users who mask their location with VPNs — law goes into effect, designed to prevent bypassing age checks
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/vpn/utah-becomes-first-us-state-to-target-vpn-use-with-age-verification-law
93 points · 17 comments · view on lemmy.world
17 Comments
givesomefucks@lemmy.world · 47 pts · 114d
I mean, even if the website detected a vpn, they don't know it came from Utah...
They can't know it came from Utah, that's the whole point of a VPN.
The only way to actually block it, is for Utah to go after ISPs services in Utah. And try to force them to ban VPNs on their end.
Demanding every fucking website worldwide block vpns isn't gonna work. You'd have to be completely and totally ignorant of technology to think this could even work...
plyth@feddit.org · 5 pts · 114d
You have to be naive to believe that it doesn't work.
It's the same as in China, you can do everything as long as it doesn't turn into a mass movement.
They don't have the intention to block every website. It's enough that they can find a teen from Utah on a VPN for any popular site. That allows them to shut down any service at any time if necessary. Only way out is a full identity verification which is enough to control any uprising.
thatsnothowyoudoit@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 114d
Most websites are voluntarily blocking VPNs. Reddit, cesspool that it often is, is one of them. I recently bumped into some sites that help sail the high seas blocking VPNs, which was rich.
So while I agree with your broader sentiment, I think many sites will just find themselves blocking VPNs for reasons other than laws or age verification bypass attempts.
That it looks like they’re complying with idiotic legislature is simply a side effect of pursuing other goals/ends.
givesomefucks@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 114d
It's porn...
People hide even the most vanilla porn...
Banning vpns worldwide will never be done by porn companies, definitely not to keep Utah happy.
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 0 pts · 114d
VPNs are not illegal. And they never will be
What they can do is make it illegal "for the purposes of bypassing age restrictions"
And that process looks like locking you in a cage and torturing you for a year (in the process you loose your job and home and possessions) while you wait for trial, which you have to pay your life savings on
LadyMeow@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 45 pts · 114d
Lmao. Fascist shithole becomes more fascist shithole. We are becoming the nation that propaganda told us china and Russia are not so long ago.
terabyterex@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 114d
the problem is, its not just us. uk and france want to be part of this shit too.
plyth@feddit.org · 9 pts · 114d
EU commission is coordinating it. Expect the entire EU to join.
jtrek@startrek.website · 21 pts · 114d
Every conservative accusation is a confession
Havatra@lemmy.zip · 19 pts · 114d
I don't get how this kind of law goes all the way into law. Yes, there are many tech illiterate old people making laws, and yes there are a lot of powerful tech billionaires lobbying, but still, are there really no roadblocks for them?
This law is unenforceable, and it's going to be abused by authorities.
TheSlad@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 114d
Unenforceable laws with abuseable vagueness is their favorite kind of law though
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 114d
Someone needs to sue every State/County/City of Utah website for not correctly detecting if a user is on a VPN.
Those building codes and property tax records are too sexy for minors.
TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 114d
Sigh...
alpha1beta@piefed.social · 5 pts · 114d
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 2 pts · 114d
That'll get beat down the first time they try to enforce it.
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 114d
By "beat down" you mean that they'll just drop the charges after putting somone in a cage and torturing them for months or years?
TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 113d
when I think of Utah I think of pedophile Mormons and white women who put mayonnaise on their tacos.
atrielienz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 113d
Not web sites. Service providers. They mean ISPs. They aren't holding pornhub liable if you use a VPN and are located in Utah.