On September 11th, Michigan officials proposed a bill to ban internet content like never before: This particularly ambitious legislation would ban not only many types of online content, but also the ability to legally use any VPN.
the invoice, known as the “Anti-Corruption of Good Habits” Act. and as proposed by six Republican representatives, would ban a wide range of adult content online, from ASMR and adult manga to artificial intelligence and any depiction of transgender people. The goal is also to ban all VPN use, both abroad and in the US.
VPNs (virtual private networks) are software packages that are often used as a solution to circumvent similar bans issued in states such as Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as the United Kingdom. They can be purchased or downloaded with a subscription and are also built into some browsers and WiFi routers.
However, the Michigan bill would require ISPs to detect and block the use of VPNs and ban their sale in the state. The fine would amount to $500,000.
What the ban could mean for VPNs
Unlike some laws that prohibit access to child-prohibited content, this Michigan bill is comprehensive. It applies to all Michigan residents, adults or children, targets a wide range of content, and contains language that could prohibit not only VPNs but any method of circumventing Internet filters or restrictions.
This can cause problems for VPN owners and other Internet users who use these tools to improve their privacy, protect their online identity, prevent ISPs from collecting data about them, or increase the security of their devices when browsing public Wi-Fi networks.
The Public Morals Anti-Corruption Act has not passed the Michigan House committee nor been voted on by the Michigan Senate, and it is unclear how much support the bill currently has beyond the six Republican lawmakers who proposed it. As we’ve seen in the past with state legislators, bills like this can sometimes serve as a model for other legislators who want to propose similar legislation in their own states.
Can VPNs still get around these bans?
It is a complex issue that is not really addressed in this bill. When I asked NordVPN how easy it was to monitor VPN usage, privacy advocate Laura Tyrylyte explained: “From a technical perspective, ISPs can try to distinguish VPN traffic using deep packet inspection, or they can block known VPN IP addresses. However, effective implementation requires significant investment and ongoing maintenance, making large-scale VPN blocks expensive and complex.
Many VPNs also offer no logs features to ensure your activity is not recorded, as well as no logs from third parties like Deloitte who try to ensure this. There are also server tricks that VPNs can use, like RAM-only servers that automatically delete data on every reboot or shutdown.
If you are seriously concerned about your privacy, you can look for such features in a VPN and see if they are right for you. Such changes, even at a national level, are one of the reasons why we pay attention to the performance of certain VPNs in our tests and make sure we recommend the right VPN for the job, from fast browsing to privacy on the go.
Correction from October 9: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that RAM-only servers are working. RAM servers run in volatile memory and their data is erased when they are restarted or shut down.