Remove VPN restrictions and device-level surveillance from the Schools Bill.

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

Amend the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill to remove any clause on digital guidance that threatens encryption/privacy. Remove VPN ban for minors and all mandates for "tamper-proof system software" on personal devices. Prohibit any age-verification requirements for VPN and communication services.

Restricting VPNs requires universal ID checks. This destroys privacy and autonomy and creates a loop where surveillance triggers workarounds, which are met with further control. "software" is a backdoor that scans messages and can result in false positives, also breaking encryption. This threatens whistleblowers & journalists who are fundamental to democracy. Who decides exemptions? It is authoritarian to treat all citizens as suspects. Police should use targeted stings, not mass surveillance.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

We are not clear what action you are seeking, as this part of the bill has already been considered by Parliament and some of the amendments you refer to have been rejected by the House of Lords so will not be part of the Bill.

There is also a petition already open on not banning children from using VPNs Do not ban children from using virtual private networks that you may wish to sign.

We cannot accept petitions that ask for the same or very similar actions to a petition that is already open.

Timeline

22 Dec 2025	Petition opened for signatures
28 Jan 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13

Status Rejected

Rejected 28 Jan 2026

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