I took the UK's online safety survey here are the red flags every privacy advocate should know

Date:
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:51:34 +0000

Description:
The UK wants to hear what citizens have to say about plans to improve children's online safety. However, the survey, seems to be pushing
respondents in one direction.

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When mandatory age verification landed in the UK last August, many were surprised by how significantly it altered our daily digital interactions.
Now, just months later, authorities are considering an expansion of these
but first, they want hear what Brits think about it.

Australias first-of-its-kind teen social media ban, enforced this past December, marked a significant turning point. It was a moment that prompted
UK lawmakers to question whether the extensive Online Safety Act does enough to protect children online. With growing concern about the role of VPN services and their capacity to circumvent the restrictions, MPs are now considering restrictions on the use of VPNs . You may like 'No approach is a silver bullet' UK launches online safety consultation that could see VPNs age-restricted Australia 'Swiss cheese-like age verification' may lead to a VPN ban, and digital safety is at risk VPN companies 'open to meaningful dialogue' with UK government during children's online safety consultation As the debate intensified, the government launched a three-month consultation to gauge public opinion on the safety and well-being of children online.
However, critics argue the survey questions are framed to lead respondents toward a specific outcome: more restrictions. Having taken the survey myself, here are a few red flags I identified. Understanding the national
consultation and why it matters (Image credit: Getty Images) Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said the consultation and any future legislation is intended to create "a digital world that gives young people the childhood
they deserve and prepares them for the future."

The consultation is open to the general public, and all responses are submitted anonymously.

Respondents can choose from three surveys: one for parents or carers of young people; one for children and young people; and a third open to all adults, including those representing civil society, the tech industry, and the
general public.

While parents and teenagers are the most obvious stakeholders, it is just as important for other adults to share their views. This is particularly
relevant for those tracking the erosion of internet anonymity and the
security risks associated with sharing sensitive data to access basic online services. Red flag #1: The imbalance between restrictions and alternatives
The first thing I noticed while taking the public survey was a clear
imbalance between the various sections.

While some sections, such as "understanding how children use technology," are naturally brief, topics like parental controls and digital education appear overlooked. What to read next UK government targets VPNs in online safety consultation as Lords vote for ban UK government may 'age restrict or limit childrens VPN use' following three-month consultation Australias age verification rules: Is a VPN ban on the horizon? (Image credit: Future) By
way of comparison, the survey features only six questions regarding digital literacy and three on parental controls, contrasted with 38 questions focused on age restrictions and assurance measures.

This disparity suggests that lawmakers continue to view age-based
restrictions as the primary way of advancing online child safety. That's despite an open letter from over 400 scientists calling for a moratorium on mandatory age verification due to the technology's potential risks.

In contrast, digital rights experts often point to enhanced parental controls and improved digital literacy as more privacy-preserving alternatives. Red flag #2: Questions framed to favor age restrictions Beyond the sheer volume
of questions, the specific wording of certain entries appears to guide respondents toward supporting a more age-restricted internet.

For example, in the survey version targeting parents and carers, when asked
if they support a legal requirement for social media platforms to maintain a minimum age lower than 16, the answers lacked an explicit option to disagree with the statement.

It's worth noting that the version dedicated to all adults does include an 'Other' option, which respondents could use to disagree. However, it's
telling that parents who are likely to be those more interested in taking
the survey are pushed to agree to age restrictions. Government to public: Do you want digital ID checks to be used to enforce a social media ban for under-16s Yes Definitely yes Strongly yes Yes 100%The consultation doesnt appear to have a box for disagreeing. pic.twitter.com/iVaOTHM86N March 17, 2026 The survey version open to all adults also includes several open-ended questions regarding age restrictions and assurance methods. These provide a space for respondents to voice concerns about how such measures might impact digital rights, including privacy, security, and freedom of information.

However, I felt that the survey should have also included closed, explicit questions asking people's views on potential risks of age restrictions and
age assurance.

Without these explicit prompts, respondents unfamiliar with the technical nuances may miss the opportunity to weigh the impact of these measures on their digital rights or voice specific concerns. Red flag #3: VPNs are seens only as circumvention tools The section regarding VPNs and potential restrictions is particularly telling. Throughout the survey, VPNs are represented primarily as circumvention tools or, to paraphrase one UK official , a "loophole" that needs to be closed.

Statements such as "Everyone should go through age checks to access a VPN if it would prevent children using them" could be seen as leading. Such phrasing may encourage respondents unfamiliar with VPN architecture to agree to restrictions without considering the broader privacy implications.

Similarly, the parental survey asks respondents if they are aware of their child using a VPN specifically to bypass restrictions. However, the survey provides no option to indicate that a child might use a VPN for legitimate privacy or security purposes. (Image credit: Future) Is it still worth taking part? While the consultation process is clearly flawed, the opportunity for public feedback on such a significant shift in internet policy remains a welcome development.

Despite or perhaps because of these concerns, it is vital that parents, teenagers, and privacy advocates take the time to respond.

For those concerned about the impact on digital privacy and security, the open-ended questions regarding age assurance and VPNs offer a crucial opportunity. These sections allow respondents to voice perspectives that may not be fully captured by the surveys closed-choice options.

The consultation remains open until May 26, 2026. This is the primary window for citizens to urge that the pursuit of a safer internet for children does not result in unintended harm to the digital rights of the wider population. Today's best VPN deals NordVPN 2 Year 2.59 /mth View +3 months free Surfshark 24 Months 1.49 /mth View Proton VPN 2.39 /mth View +4 MONTHS FREE ExpressVPN 24 month 1.74 /mth View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to
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