Lawmakers in Michigan have sparked controversy by introducing a bill that could drastically reshape internet freedom in the United States. The Anticorruption of Public Morals Act (available as a downloadable PDF) aims to outlaw a wide range of online content and tools. The proposed law categorizes materials featuring transgender people, pornography, ASMR, and graphic imagery as “corrupting public morals.” Those who post or host such content could face hefty fines or even imprisonment.
Even more concerning for privacy advocates, the bill would ban Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), proxy servers, and encrypted tunnels — essential tools for safeguarding user privacy. VPNs mask a user’s IP address and encrypt internet traffic, providing anonymity and protection against tracking or censorship.
This proposed legislation is part of a growing global movement toward internet censorship. Across the U.S., several states have already introduced obscenity laws and age-verification requirements. Activists argue that these measures go far beyond protecting minors — they threaten the very foundation of online privacy and free expression.
Why VPNs Matter
Around the world, VPNs play a vital role in protecting citizens’ ability to access and share information freely. In countries like China, Iran, and Russia, where governments impose strict censorship, VPNs remain one of the few tools allowing people to reach uncensored information.
Earlier this year, activists in Nepal used VPNs to bypass social media bans and organize demonstrations during the 2025 uprising. Despite efforts by authoritarian regimes to block VPNs, such restrictions have proven difficult to enforce and often backfire by drawing more attention to government censorship efforts.
What Michigan’s Bill Could Mean
Michigan House Bill 4938 marks a new frontier in the U.S. debate over internet control. Unlike previous laws that focus solely on content moderation, this proposal targets the very tools that help users maintain privacy online. If passed, it would make Michigan the first state to criminalize VPN use — placing it in the same company as North Korea, Turkmenistan, and China.
Experts warn this could set a dangerous precedent. A 2023 Surfshark study found that nearly half of the world’s internet users already live under some form of VPN restriction. Critics fear similar laws could spread across Western countries. In the United Kingdom, discussions about restricting VPNs intensified after age-verification laws led to a surge in VPN downloads.
While VPNs don’t make users completely anonymous, they remain a crucial defense against cyberattacks and surveillance. Without them, citizens, journalists, and businesses would be more vulnerable to hackers, data theft, and government overreach.
Growing Resistance from Activists
The backlash was immediate. On September 11, 2025, digital rights group Fight for the Future launched a global campaign to stop the VPN ban. Their VPN Day of Action encouraged users to sign an open letter demanding lawmakers protect access to privacy tools. More than 15,000 people have already signed the petition.
Lia Holland, the organization’s communications director, told the Detroit Free Press that the danger lies not only in whether the bill passes but in how it reshapes public debate. Once radical ideas like banning VPNs enter mainstream discussions, she warns, they can normalize broader censorship policies.
This concern is not unfounded. Since 2023, 25 U.S. states have passed laws requiring age verification for adult content — a move critics say threatens privacy and opens the door for greater online regulation. Some platforms, like Bluesky, have already blocked users from certain states to avoid legal liability.
The Bigger Picture
Michigan’s proposal comes amid a wave of federal and state legislation that critics describe as creeping digital authoritarianism. The Take It Down Act, enacted in May 2025 to combat non-consensual pornography, is one example. While well-intentioned, digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argue that such laws can be misused to justify broader censorship.
Within this context, the VPN ban is more than just a state-level issue — it’s part of a nationwide battle over privacy, security, and free access to information. As citizens continue to push back, many fear that losing the right to privacy tools like VPNs could mark the beginning of a new era of internet control in the U.S.