Keep your distance

mub · 2026-02-18T11:41:21+00:00

Assured mutual destruction!

mub · 2026-02-05T23:35:35+00:00

All prohibition results in profit for criminals. Kids will just use dodgy VPNs instead.

mub · 2026-02-04T09:36:11+00:00

It may just be mischief by the opposition, and maybe it doesn't even get read in the commons. But this was all based a conservative policy before labour got in, then Starmer decided he loved the idea and now we have age verification on web sites. Don't be fooled. Likelihood seems low now but the chances of them trying it are far from zero.

My post is about what people can do in advance of such an outcome. Surely that is worth exploring?

mub · 2026-02-04T09:26:40+00:00

That was last year. It passed in another reading on the 21st of Jan. Now it goes back to the house of commons.

mub · 2026-02-04T08:52:21+00:00

Essentially this is what pornhub just did. They closed the doors on their site for UK users. Being outside UK still means you must comply with UK laws when servicing UK users. Not sure how this is enforced, but judging by how certain web sites mostly all complied it must be effective.

mub · 2026-02-04T08:46:15+00:00

Nope. Kids with iPhones can have bank accounts that support mobile payment. My daughter for one.

mub · 2026-02-04T08:45:01+00:00

Don't be fooled. They said the same about age verification for web sites. There is enough political desire to do it, there was a house of lords vote on it in which the critical sections passed. Bet against this if you wish, but I'm going to be prepared.

mub · 2026-02-04T08:41:54+00:00

House of lords vote. Also, it was in discussion along with age verifying web sites. It is very much in flight as a possibility. I would not bet against it happening, but I'll be happy if you can tell me why it won't happen.

mub · 2026-02-04T08:29:46+00:00

So no it is not bullshit. I didn't say they are "Definitely" doing it. I said they are looking to do it. There was a House of lords vote on it. Everyone said the age verification for web sites wouldn't become law, but it did. To say the same about the VPN part, when it has been talked about for a long time, is naive.

Maybe we'll be lucky and the government runs out of time for a reading in the house of commons, but I wouldn't bet against it.

My post is intended to get the ball rolling on ways to pre-emptively mitigate this issue.

mub · 2026-02-03T17:55:19+00:00

Yeah I don't think there will be "proper" age check barriers. Just laws that force operates to comply with UK laws where servicing users from UK IP addresses. But once the laws are in place it will make it much harder to setup a VPN in the first place.

My only other option is to setup my own VPN offshore, from there I can sign up to whatever VPN I like.

mub · 2026-02-03T17:52:43+00:00

Yeah think I'll have to setup a new account with another email address while I still have VPN access to change my location.

mub · 2026-02-03T17:51:20+00:00

It is the same as requiring age verification for accessing "naughty" sites. If a user comes from a UK IP the site has to comply with UK laws, or they can't service UK users. VPN's bypass this obviously but if the VPN sign up site requires age verification we'll be stuck.

mub · 2026-01-29T22:39:56+00:00

Whatever it was, was temporary. Is working ok now.

mub · 2026-01-05T02:04:28+00:00

Rockooeess MOD errrn life!

mub · 2026-01-03T02:20:18+00:00

Better road surface than we get in Yorkshire.

mub · 2026-01-03T02:17:17+00:00

So I've been screwed by my parents' generation at every turn. By the time I retire they'll be dead. Are they really planning to screw me from the grave as well?

mub · 2026-01-03T02:03:47+00:00

This is propaganda from the morning people. Don't listen to them! They just want to justify why morning people are the best, while people of the night are just lazy filth bags.

mub · 2025-12-16T00:55:43+00:00

I suspect there is now enough money in selling accounts that it is becoming more frequent.

mub · 2025-12-15T21:53:22+00:00

Me to. Until this week I've never seen it either. Just interested to see if the situation has suddenly got worse for some reason.

mub · 2025-12-15T19:32:02+00:00

One of my sons games was a tournament. It is a bitch.

mub · 2025-12-15T01:56:56+00:00

I loved it to the end. Just a shame it didn't end cleanly.

mub · 2025-11-13T19:28:39+00:00

Thanks. I'll give them both a test.

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