this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
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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 (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 4 days ago by LuminousLuddite@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 45 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Web services and websites should block all Utah IP addresses and redirect to page explaining that because they cannot tell who’s using a VPN, their only option is to block all of Utah.

But VPN users using a VPN outside of Utah will still get through.

What Utah (and likely other dumb states soon) are trying to do is to force age verification worldwide through a state law, forcing websites to verify the age of every user from anywhere, because any user who accesses the site from anywhere in the world might possibly be someone in Utah using a VPN.

[–] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 32 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I understand.

Which is why I'm suggesting they preemptively block everyone in Utah. Protesting needs to inconvenience people and good protests redirect that anger towards those in power.

"Utah's new law us makes us legally liable for providing our services to residence in Utah using a VPN. As that is not technically possible, we have no choice but to cease operating in Utah, or allowing Utah residents to use our services."

But whether or not that particular strategy would be an effective from a protest, is a moot point, as big tech is behind these types of age verification and use identification laws, and those are the only websites and services with a large enough user base to make a difference here.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago

Which is why I’m suggesting they preemptively block everyone in Utah.

Pornhub and other porn sites already do this.

They would still be liable for transmitting content to a Utah resident using a VPN to appear as though they were in neighboring Arizona.