Following the introduction of the Online Safety Act, VPN downloads have topped the various app stores’ download charts, and several MPs have spoken about how this may mean there is a need to restrict access to VPNs to ensure children are protected.

Obviously this would represent an incredible upgrade to the capabilities of the surveillance state, so is something to be carefully monitored.

To that end, this market will resolve YES if at any point before the next General Election, any of the following events occur:

1) A bill restricting access to VPNs is introduced by a government minister on behalf of the Government (not a Private Member’s Bill).

2) VPN restriction is mentioned in the King’s Speech.

3) Home Office, DCMS, or Cabinet Office publishes a draft bill or White Paper explicitly proposing VPN restrictions.

4) Any Commons division where a majority of Government MPs (on a whipped vote) back VPN restrictions, regardless of passage.

5) A Cabinet minister makes a formal statement to Parliament announcing intent to restrict VPNs, and the proposal is referred to pre-legislative scrutiny (committee stage without full bill).

Otherwise resolves NO on the date of the dissolution of parliament prior to the next election.