Missouri has become the 25th US state to pass an age verification law, which went into effect on November 30, 2025. The law requires adults to verify their age to access platforms and websites with “harmful content” for minors.
To comply with Missouri’s age verification law, qualifying sites must deploy age-verification tools when one-third or more of the site’s content is deemed “harmful to minors.” This can involve submitting digital IDs, government-issued IDs, or transactional data. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $10,000.
The debate over age verification laws has sparked concerns about personal data collection, privacy, and security. Some argue that these laws pose serious cybersecurity risks, while others believe they are necessary to protect children from seeing harmful content online.
As a result, people have been exploring the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass age verification checks or enhance their online security. VPNs can encrypt data and mask IP addresses, providing users with more control over their online privacy.
Missouri’s age verification law follows a similar pattern to other laws enacted across the US. However, some experts warn that collecting personal data through these means poses significant risks.
With the rise of age verification laws, there has been an increased interest in VPNs and online security tools. A notable deal on Proton VPN is available this Black Friday, offering a two-year plan for $2.49 per month ($59.76 upfront). This provides users with a private and secure browsing experience while supporting digital rights.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/vpns/age-verification-law-to-hit-missouri-on-sunday-heres-what-you-need-to-know