Britain’s push to shield children from online perils now targets a surprising foe: virtual private networks. The VPN Trust Initiative, a coalition backed by NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN under the i2Coalition, fired off a stark warning this week. Treating VPNs as mere loopholes in age checks, they argue, ignores their role in blocking hackers, scammers, and trackers. Policies that hobble these tools could strip away defenses for the kids they’re meant to protect. TechRadar broke the story on April 23, 2026. The flashpoint is the government’s “Growing Up in an Online World” consultation, launched March 2 and running until May 26. It probes age limits on social media, AI chatbots, and—crucially—VPNs when they let minors dodge safeguards. Prime Minister Keir Starmer kicked things off in February, vowing no platform gets a pass. “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges,” he said, announcing powers to act fast via the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.…