1 in 6 VPNs Track Your Location, According to New Report From Proton
Utah implemented the first US law targeting virtual private network use for age verification following the expiration of a court pause on September 3, 2026. Meanwhile, investigations reveal privacy risks in the mobile marketplace, including dozens of applications owned by Chinese companies and some concealing their true ownership through shell entities in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. These regulatory changes unfold alongside expanding physical tracking infrastructure, as automated license plate reader networks developed by companies like Flock Safety log civilian movements across communities without warrants.
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- ✓ Utah Senate Bill 73 went into effect on September 3, 2026.
- ✓ The law is the first in the United States to explicitly target virtual private network use for age verification.
- ✓ A court injunction previously paused the law following a challenge from Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub.
- ✓ An industry investigation found that 64 of 390 virtual private network apps available in US app stores are owned by Chinese companies.
What changed
Utah Senate Bill 73 went into effect on September 3, 2026, after a legal challenge and injunction involving Aylo expired.
Live updates
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New Surveillance Risks Emerge as Utah VPN Law Takes Effect
Utah implemented the first US law targeting virtual private network use for age verification following the expiration of a court pause on September 3, 2026. Meanwhile, investigations reveal privacy risks in the mobile marketplace, including dozens of applications owned by Chinese companies and some concealing their true ownership through shell entities in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. These regulatory changes unfold alongside expanding physical tracking infrastructure, as automated license plate reader networks developed by companies like Flock Safety log civilian movements across communities without warrants.
Why it matters
The activation of Utah Senate Bill 73 marks a significant escalation in state-level digital regulation and pits lawmakers against major digital rights advocates. This development intersects with growing industry scrutiny regarding the actual privacy guarantees offered by commercial virtual private networks. Concurrently, citizens face compounding surveillance threats from automated license plate readers operating on city streets.
What is confirmed
- Utah Senate Bill 73 went into effect on September 3, 2026.
- The law is the first in the United States to explicitly target virtual private network use for age verification.
- A court injunction previously paused the law following a challenge from Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub.
- An industry investigation found that 64 of 390 virtual private network apps available in US app stores are owned by Chinese companies.
- 31 of those apps actively conceal their true ownership behind shell entities registered in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
Still unconfirmed
- Automatic license plate reader companies like Flock Safety are quietly building a nationwide mass surveillance system.
What to watch next
- Further legal challenges to Utah Senate Bill 73
- Additional regulatory actions targeting foreign-owned virtual private network applications in US app stores
- Community resistance and municipal decisions regarding automated license plate reader contracts
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (4)
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VPN Tracking and Digital Privacy Face New 2026 Scrutiny
Digital privacy concerns surrounding virtual private networks and location tracking are escalating in 2026 amid evolving surveillance threats. While major providers like NordVPN maintain top rankings for speed and streaming performance, questions persist regarding whether standard VPN services remain sufficient against modern AI tracking, browser fingerprinting, and traffic analysis. This regulatory and technical scrutiny unfolds as states like Utah implement pioneering legislation targeting VPN use for age verification, drawing sharp condemnation from major digital rights advocates and industry providers over constitutional questions.
Why it matters
Regulatory pressure on virtual private networks has intensified as lawmakers attempt to use them for age verification checks. At the same time, technical advancements in artificial intelligence and data collection methods complicate traditional digital privacy protections. Industry providers and privacy advocates continue to clash over the legal and security implications of these state-level measures.
What is confirmed
- NordVPN is ranked as the best VPN service in 2026 based on measured speeds, streaming results, and prices.
Still unconfirmed
- AI tracking, browser fingerprinting, traffic analysis, and quantum threats are changing VPN security in 2026.
What to watch next
- Court rulings regarding the constitutionality of Utah Senate Bill 73 age verification mandates.
- Further industry performance metrics and privacy audits for top-ranked VPN providers in 2026.
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Utah VPN Age-Verification Law Sparks Privacy and Legal Debate
Utah has implemented Senate Bill 73, establishing the nation's first state-level legislation targeting virtual private network use for age verification. Privacy advocates warn that the measure raises constitutional questions regarding the First Amendment that courts have yet to resolve. Major providers such as NordVPN and AdGuard have condemned the statute over digital rights risks. This regulatory development arrives alongside findings that the majority of US mobile virtual private network applications contain third-party trackers harvesting user data for advertising technology.
Why it matters
The Utah legislation introduces a novel intersection between state-level age verification mandates and consumer privacy tools. Providers argue the framework compromises the fundamental security protections virtual private networks are designed to offer users.
What is confirmed
- Utah's Senate Bill 73 takes effect September 3, 2026, as the first US law targeting VPN use for age verification.
- Privacy advocates state the new law raises First Amendment questions that the courts have yet to address.
Still unconfirmed
- Major providers like NordVPN and AdGuard oppose the legislation due to risks to digital rights.
What to watch next
- Court challenges filed by privacy advocates or VPN providers against Utah Senate Bill 73
- Official responses from state regulators regarding enforcement of the VPN age-verification requirements
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Utah Age Verification Law Targets VPNs as Privacy Risks Mount
Utah's Senate Bill 73 takes effect September 3, 2026, making it the first US law to target VPN use for age verification. The law applies to anyone physically located in the state. Top providers including NordVPN and AdGuard oppose the legislation, citing risks to digital rights. This regulatory shift occurs alongside a Proton investigation revealing that 85% of US mobile VPN apps contain third-party trackers that collect device IDs, network data, and location for ad-tech infrastructure. Additionally, congressional analysis suggests foreign spies can trace users by comparing encrypted traffic at VPN servers.
Why it matters
VPNs are typically used to mask identity and location, but recent findings suggest many providers fail to protect user data. The Utah law represents a shift toward state-level mandates that could force VPNs to compromise anonymity for legal compliance.
What is confirmed
- Utah's Senate Bill 73 takes effect September 3, 2026, as the first US law targeting VPN use for age verification.
- Proton found that 85% of mobile VPN apps in US app stores contain third-party trackers.
- NordVPN and AdGuard oppose Utah's age verification legislation.
Still unconfirmed
- Foreign spies can trace users by comparing encrypted traffic entering and leaving a VPN server.
- The compliance framework for Utah's law cannot function as written.
What to watch next
- Court rulings on the legality of SB 73
- NSA updates regarding VPN spying risks
- Response from other US states regarding similar age verification laws
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- gizmodo.com — You installed a VPN to hide from trackers. 85% of them are trackers.
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- tech.yahoo.com — Utah becomes the first US state to target VPNs with a strict age verification law, but top providers refuse to budge
- www.techspot.com — Utah just became the first state to target VPN users for age verification
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Utah VPN Law Takes Effect Amid Privacy Concerns
Utah's Senate Bill 73 takes effect September 3, 2026, marking the first US law to explicitly target VPN use for age verification. The law follows a court injunction triggered by Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, which paused the original May rollout. NordVPN and other major providers oppose the legislation, with NordVPN claiming the compliance framework cannot function as written. This legal shift coincides with previous Proton findings that 85% of US VPN apps contain trackers and 1 in 6 track user location.
Why it matters
VPNs are designed to shield user identity and activity from surveillance. The Utah law introduces a legal mechanism to bypass or regulate this anonymity for age-restricted content. This creates a conflict between state mandates and the core privacy function of VPN services.
What is confirmed
- Utah's Senate Bill 73 takes effect on September 3, 2026.
- Senate Bill 73 is the first US law to explicitly target VPN use regarding age verification.
Still unconfirmed
- NordVPN claims the Utah law is a compliance framework that cannot function as written.
- Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, challenged the law and secured a court injunction that paused the May rollout.
What to watch next
- Court rulings on the legality of Senate Bill 73
- Compliance responses from major VPN providers after September 3
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- uk.pcmag.com — The Best VPN Services for 2026
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Proton Report Finds 85% of US VPN Apps Contain Trackers
Proton warns that millions of US users are risking their privacy because 85% of VPN apps downloaded in the US contain trackers. While some reports highlight that 1 in 6 VPNs specifically track user location, the broader finding suggests a widespread presence of tracking technology within these privacy tools. This contradicts the primary purpose of VPNs, which is to shield user identity and activity from surveillance.
Why it matters
VPNs are designed to encrypt internet traffic and hide IP addresses to prevent tracking. The discovery of integrated trackers suggests that many services may be collecting the very data they claim to protect.
What is confirmed
- Proton found that 85% of VPN apps downloaded in the US contain trackers.
- Proton warns that millions of VPN users in the US are inadvertently risking their privacy.
Still unconfirmed
- 1 in 6 VPNs track user location.
- Chinese apps are secretly spying on millions of iPhone and Android users without warning.
What to watch next
- Identification of specific VPN providers containing trackers.
- Response from VPN companies named in the Proton report.
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (6)
- CNET — 1 in 6 VPNs Track Your Location, According to New Report From Proton
- TechRadar — Millions of VPN users in the US are inadvertently putting their privacy at risk, Proton warns
- Yahoo News Canada — ‘No Warning’—The Chinese Apps Secretly ‘Spying On Millions’ Of iPhone And Android Users
- CyberInsider — Proton finds 85% of US-downloaded VPN apps contain trackers
- Gadget Review — 85% of VPN Apps May Be Tracking You, Proton Says
- www.cnet.com — Fastest VPN of 2026: Improve Your Privacy Without Sacrificing Speed
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