Mozilla warns UK: Breaking VPNs will not magically fix Britain's age-check mess

Mozilla has warned the UK government against treating VPNs as collateral damage in efforts to stop children bypassing Online Safety Act age checks, arguing VPNs are essential privacy and security tools used by many (including journalists, activists, and remote workers). The submission cites research showing few children use VPNs to evade age checks, highlights alternative bypass methods (fake birthdates, borrowed accounts, weak age-assurance systems), and cautions that blocking or restricting VPNs would force users to surrender personal data and risk shifting toward "safety through surveillance."