In recent months, the EU has been increasingly discussing age verification, digital user identification, and restrictions on anonymity tools. With new initiatives surrounding online age verification, many are starting to worry about the future of VPNs and private messaging apps. It's important to understand that while there is no talk of a complete ban on VPNs in Europe, the pressure on privacy tools is indeed ramping up.
The discussions around 'Chat Control' and new age verification mechanisms have been particularly loud, potentially impacting encrypted messaging, VPNs, and anonymous access to services. Security experts are already warning that excessive control could weaken the privacy of regular users.
What should the average user do?
First — stop using 'mass' solutions that collect too much data. Many are still using browsers and apps where telemetry is enabled by default.
Here are some tools that the privacy community has long recommended:
— Mullvad Browser — a browser with minimal fingerprinting and a focus on anonymity
— Session — a messenger without a phone number and centralized servers
— SimpleX Chat — one of the most intriguing private messengers of the new generation
— GrapheneOS — a hardened Android for those who truly care about security
— Proton Drive and Cryptomator — for secure file storage
— Obsidian + local encryption instead of cloud notes
More and more people are starting to understand the value of decentralized identity and Web3 infrastructure. That's why projects like @OpenLedger are gaining interest: the future of the internet is gradually shifting to a model where users control their own data, rather than corporations or centralized platforms.
In the coming years, privacy will become not just a 'geek thing' but a standard practice in digital hygiene. The sooner people start understanding security, the easier it will be to adapt to the new rules of the digital world.