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Internet: Privacy

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 7 July 2026UIN 14206

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2026 to Question 11357, what plans she has to consult a) businesses, b) cybersecurity experts or c) providers of VPNs as part of its consideration of evidence relating to virtual private networks.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

The ‘Growing up in the Online World’ consultation welcomed responses from everyone, including industry, civil society and children and young people.

As part of the National Conversation, the Government engaged widely, including with businesses, cybersecurity experts and VPN providers. A summary of the Ministerial and official engagement that took place has been published on GOV.UK.

We continue to consider the evidence on VPNs collected as part of the consultation. The Government has been clear that any intervention must be proportionate, effective and evidence based.

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