{"text":[[{"start":9.15,"text":"Ministers are considering putting age limits on virtual private networks to stop children circumventing the forthcoming social media ban, as the UK’s regulator warned of serious practical problems checking users are over 16. "}],[{"start":22.5,"text":"Sir Keir Starmer on Monday announced the UK would impose a ban on under-16s accessing social media sites. The restrictions, which seek to go further than a pioneering ban introduced in Australia, are due to come into force in early 2027. "}],[{"start":38.35,"text":"Ofcom, the media regulator, on Tuesday warned the preferred means of several Big Tech companies to enforce Australia’s ban may not be effective. "}],[{"start":47.35,"text":"In Australia, apps including TikTok and YouTube use algorithms that assess a user’s age from their online behaviour. Ofcom said: “The evidence does not yet show that these models can deliver an effective, privacy-preserving solution for an under-16 ban.”"}],[{"start":62.650000000000006,"text":"A social media ban has been hugely popular with British parents. However, critics have long warned of the practical difficulties. "}],[{"start":70.9,"text":"The government has provided little detail on how the UK’s ban would be implemented. Starmer has given Ofcom until October to find a way to impose “highly effective” age checks, after reports that teenagers have widely flouted similar restrictions in Australia."}],[{"start":87,"text":"In a letter to the government, Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom’s group director of online safety, said checking users were over 16 “should be technically feasible” but would prove harder than existing over-18 restrictions under the Online Safety Act, which use methods such as credit card checks. "}],[{"start":103.9,"text":"Ministers have also yet to find a way to stop teenagers circumventing a ban through use of VPNs, which can tell devices that users are in another country. "}],[{"start":112.7,"text":"Ian Murray, digital minister, told the FT that “VPNs are a big issue” in enforcing the rules. "}],[{"start":119.25,"text":"“We understand that there’s going to be some non-compliance in this and that’s where we want to find the very, very best examples of age verification and how we can make this system work.”"}],[{"start":129.5,"text":"Asked if this could include requiring age verification for people to use a VPN, he said: “We’ve not taken anything off the table as yet.”"}],[{"start":137.4,"text":"A consultation on social media restrictions launched earlier this year asked for views on imposing age checks on VPN users. Usage of VPNs soared in the immediate aftermath of the online safety rules coming into force for adult sites last year. "}],[{"start":152.3,"text":"However, privacy campaigners have argued that any age limits on VPNs — which could require users to prove their identity in order to access the services — would undermine the security protections that such apps provide. "}],[{"start":173.45000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781666079_6142.mp3"}