A federal judge has blocked Utah’s demand that websites be able to see through VPNs, according to a Techdirt report. The state had pushed for websites to identify and effectively unmask users who rely on virtual private networks, part of a broader wave of state-level internet regulation. The judge’s decision stops that requirement, at least for now.
The ruling comes amid a period when states have tried to fill a perceived federal vacuum on tech policy, with Congress widely seen as gridlocked. Techdirt notes that the Supreme Court recently reminded states that the First Amendment still applies online, and this decision appears to follow that principle. The court’s action suggests that state efforts to force websites to pierce VPN protections will face serious constitutional scrutiny.
Because only one source was used, there are no conflicting accounts to compare. The report frames the ruling as a win for online privacy and free expression, but the full reasoning of the judge was not detailed in the source. The case may still proceed, and the final outcome remains uncertain.