The Wisconsin VPN Crackdown: What's Actually Happening
Tomorrow isn't just another day in Wisconsin politics. The state Senate is scheduled to vote on Assembly Bill 105—legislation that could fundamentally change how residents access the internet. And honestly? Most people don't realize how far this thing reaches.
The bill's stated purpose sounds reasonable enough: protect minors from harmful content. But the mechanism is where things get messy. AB 105 would ban adults from using VPNs to access material "harmful to minors," which includes not just adult content but potentially LGBTQ+ resources, sexual health information, and anything else lawmakers decide fits the category. Websites with "substantial" NSFW content would be required to block visitors using VPNs.
Here's what keeps me up at night: this isn't just about porn. It's about creating a legal framework where using privacy tools becomes suspicious activity. Once that door opens, other states will walk right through it.
Why This Bill Misses the Point Entirely
Let's be clear about something—lawmakers pushing this bill fundamentally misunderstand how VPNs work and why people use them. I've spoken with dozens of privacy advocates, and the consensus is unanimous: this is a solution looking for a problem.
VPNs serve multiple legitimate purposes that have nothing to do with accessing restricted content. Remote workers use them to securely access company networks. Journalists in hostile environments rely on them for protection. Activists use them to organize safely. Even ordinary people use VPNs to prevent their internet service providers from selling their browsing data—something that's perfectly legal in most states.
The bill's language is dangerously vague too. What constitutes a "substantial portion" of NSFW content? Is a news site that occasionally covers sexual health topics included? What about educational resources? The lack of clear definitions means websites will likely over-block to avoid legal trouble, creating collateral damage across the internet.
The Slippery Slope Nobody's Talking About
When Wisconsin lawmakers say this is just about protecting children, I have to call BS. This creates a precedent that's way too easy to expand. Think about it: if VPN use becomes legally suspect for accessing certain content today, what stops lawmakers from expanding that list tomorrow?
Political content they don't like? Medical information about controversial treatments? Foreign news sources? Once you establish that using privacy tools to access certain information is illegal, you've created a blueprint for censorship.
And here's the kicker—this doesn't actually protect kids. Tech-savvy teenagers have been bypassing content restrictions since the dial-up era. They'll find ways around this. Meanwhile, adults lose privacy protections, websites face compliance nightmares, and legitimate VPN providers get caught in the crossfire.
How This Affects You (Even If You Don't Live in Wisconsin)
You might be thinking, "I don't live in Wisconsin, so this doesn't affect me." That's where you'd be wrong. Legislation like this has a way of spreading—especially when it comes from a state that often serves as a testing ground for national political strategies.
Already, several other states are considering similar measures. If AB 105 passes, you can bet lawmakers elsewhere will introduce copycat bills. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been tracking this trend, and their warnings should give everyone pause.
But there's another, more immediate concern: compliance. Websites aren't going to create different rules for different states. If they have to block VPN users to comply with Wisconsin law, they'll likely block VPN users everywhere. That means your ability to access legitimate content privately could disappear because of legislation in a state you've never visited.
The Technical Nightmare for Websites
Let's talk about the practical implementation, because from a technical standpoint, this bill is a mess. I've worked with web developers on compliance issues, and what AB 105 demands is borderline impossible to implement correctly.
First, detecting VPN use isn't as straightforward as it sounds. Sure, there are commercial services that maintain lists of known VPN IP addresses, but these lists are always incomplete. New VPN servers come online daily. Residential VPN services (where people run VPNs from their homes) are virtually indistinguishable from regular connections.
Second, the false positive rate would be enormous. Universities, corporations, hospitals—they all use VPN-like technologies for legitimate purposes. Would a student researching sexual health from a university network get blocked? What about someone accessing medical records through a hospital VPN?
The compliance costs alone could shutter smaller websites. We're talking about implementing complex detection systems, maintaining them, handling appeals from incorrectly blocked users—it's a technical and financial burden that many sites can't shoulder.
What You Can Do Right Now (Practical Steps)
If you're worried about this legislation—and you should be—there are concrete actions you can take. First, understand that this bill hasn't passed yet. The Senate vote is tomorrow, which means there's still time for opposition to make itself heard.
Contact Wisconsin senators. Be polite but firm. Explain that VPNs have legitimate uses beyond accessing restricted content. Mention how this affects remote workers, journalists, activists, and ordinary people concerned about privacy. Personal stories matter here—if you have experience using VPNs for legitimate purposes, share it.
Support organizations fighting this legislation. The EFF is leading the charge, but local digital rights groups in Wisconsin need help too. Even small donations or social media amplification can make a difference.
And prepare yourself technically. If this passes, you'll want to understand your options. A popular choice among experts is NordVPN Service, which offers robust security features that might help navigate these new restrictions while maintaining privacy. But remember—no tool is magic. Legislation like this creates a cat-and-mouse game where providers and users constantly adapt to new restrictions.
Common Misconceptions About VPNs and This Legislation
"VPNs are only for hiding illegal activity"
This is the biggest misconception driving this legislation. In reality, VPNs are standard security tools used by businesses, educational institutions, and privacy-conscious individuals worldwide. They protect against data theft on public Wi-Fi, prevent ISP tracking, and enable secure remote work.
"This only affects people accessing adult content"
The bill's language is much broader. "Material harmful to minors" could include comprehensive sex education, LGBTQ+ resources, artistic content, and medical information. The vagueness is intentional and dangerous.
"Other states won't follow Wisconsin's lead"
Look at age verification legislation—once a few states passed laws requiring ID for adult sites, others quickly followed. This creates a domino effect that's hard to stop once it starts rolling.
"Tech companies will find workarounds"
Some might, but many will simply block access from affected regions rather than risk legal liability. We've seen this happen with GDPR compliance—some U.S. sites still block EU visitors rather than meet requirements.
The Bigger Picture: Privacy in 2026
What's happening in Wisconsin isn't happening in isolation. We're seeing a global trend toward internet fragmentation and surveillance. Age verification laws, VPN restrictions, data localization requirements—they're all pieces of the same puzzle.
In 2026, your ability to access information privately shouldn't depend on your zip code. Yet that's exactly what legislation like AB 105 creates: a patchwork of restrictions that make the internet less open, less secure, and less useful.
The irony? These restrictions often backfire. When you make privacy tools harder to use, you don't stop determined bad actors—they'll always find ways around restrictions. You do, however, make ordinary people less safe. You expose their data to theft. You make journalists and activists more vulnerable. You create an internet where only the technically savvy can protect themselves.
Your Action Plan Moving Forward
First, stay informed. Follow digital rights organizations and local news in states considering similar legislation. Early awareness gives you more time to act.
Second, diversify your privacy tools. Don't rely solely on VPNs. Use Tor for sensitive browsing. Consider privacy-focused browsers and search engines. The more tools you understand, the better you can adapt to changing restrictions.
Third, talk about this with people who might not understand the implications. Many folks hear "VPN restrictions" and think it doesn't affect them. Explain how it actually does—how it affects their security, their privacy, their access to information.
Finally, consider the long game. Legislation like AB 105 might pass. If it does, the fight doesn't end—it moves to the courts, to public awareness campaigns, to technological workarounds. Privacy has always been an ongoing battle, and 2026 is just the latest chapter.
The Bottom Line
Wisconsin's AB 105 represents more than just another internet regulation. It's a test case for whether states can effectively ban privacy tools under the guise of protecting children. The implications reach far beyond adult content or VPN technology—they touch on fundamental questions about who controls information in the digital age.
Tomorrow's vote matters, but it's not the end of the story. Whatever happens, the conversation about digital privacy, state power, and individual rights will continue. Your voice in that conversation matters more than ever.
So pay attention. Speak up. And remember: in the battle for digital rights, complacency is the real enemy.
