NordVPN, a widely used VPN, is favored by many UK politicians, yet it appears they are not benefiting from the most favorable pricing.
UK Politicians and VPN Subscriptions: A Closer Look
In the digital age, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) has become commonplace for individuals seeking to enhance their online privacy and security. This trend extends to the UK's political sphere, as a recent analysis of expense claims reveals.
One of the most popular VPN services among UK politicians is NordVPN, with five MPs expensing plans for this service. Labour MPs Jonathan Reynolds, Alex Sobel, and Kate Osamor, as well as Conservative MPs Gareth Davies and Chris Heaton-Harris, have all expensed NordVPN plans.
Labour MP Luke Pollard is another politician who has expensed a VPN subscription, but his claim was for a "Secure VPN" subscription, and the specific provider remains unclear. It's worth noting that this provider is not recommended by Tom's Guide.
In addition to NordVPN, other VPN services have been claimed by UK politicians. For instance, former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant submitted claims for "Netshade (Rayner) VPN" and "Security software VPN", while Labour MP Sarah Champion has tried to pass an amendment that would give OFCOM power to investigate VPN usage that undermines regulations.
The research conducted by Proton, the team behind Proton VPN, suggests that cybersecurity education may be lacking among not just UK politicians, but also those in the EU and US. This is evident in the data showing that the emails of 443 MPs (68%) had been breached and leaked on the dark web, along with 284 passwords. Similarly, 3,191 emails (20%) and 2,975 passwords belonging to US political staffers were also discovered on the dark web.
Amidst these concerns, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, has ruled out a VPN ban but has said he'd look "very closely" at how they're being used in relation to the new Online Safety Act. This indicates a focus on ensuring the responsible use of VPNs in the political sphere.
It's important to note that only nine out of 650 MPs have expensed VPN subscriptions, suggesting that the use of VPNs is not widespread among UK politicians.
In conclusion, while the use of VPNs by UK politicians has raised some concerns, the data suggests that the practice is not widespread. However, the need for cybersecurity education remains a pressing issue, as evidenced by the breaches and leaks of MPs' emails and passwords.
[1] Source: Tom's Guide [4] Source: Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
- The trend of utilizing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for enhancing online privacy and security extends beyond individuals to the UK's political sphere, as revealed by an analysis of expense claims.
- Not only NordVPN, but other VPN services such as "Netshade (Rayner) VPN" and "Security software VPN" have been claimed by UK politicians, highlighting the varied technology options used in policy-and-legislation and general-news discussions.
- In the wake of concerns over VPN usage and cybersecurity, the focus shifts towards ensuring responsible use, as indicated by the Secretary of State Peter Kyle, who has stated an intention to closely examine VPN usage in relation to the new Online Safety Act, emphasizing technology and policy-and-legislation.
