Editing Openai/69286bee-aafc-8011-ac5f-9fd90198a0a4 (section)

==== 2. Michigan: HB 4938 and corporate VPNs ====

HB 4938 is the really extreme one:
* It targets online “public morals” / adult content and even depictions of transgender people, and then goes after the tools used to bypass filtering.TechRadar<ref>{{cite web|title=TechRadar|url=https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/vpn-usage-at-risk-in-michigan-under-new-proposed-adult-content-law|publisher=techradar.com|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref>
* The bill would require ISPs in Michigan to “monitor and block known circumvention tools”, defining those as “any software, hardware, or service designed to bypass internet filtering mechanisms or content restrictions, including virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy servers, and encrypted tunneling methods.”TechRadar<ref>{{cite web|title=TechRadar|url=https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/vpn-usage-at-risk-in-michigan-under-new-proposed-adult-content-law|publisher=techradar.com|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref>

Because it explicitly names VPNs and encrypted tunnels, and puts the duty on ISPs (not just porn sites), a strict reading would mean:
* Any VPN tunnel running over a Michigan ISP could be blocked.
* That includes: - Corporate remote-access VPN for WFH - Site-to-site VPNs between a Michigan office and another office/data center - SASE / zero-trust solutions that rely on encrypted tunnels

Digital rights groups and VPN providers have pointed out that this would break normal business, education, and secure communication – not just porn viewing.TechRadar<ref>{{cite web|title=TechRadar|url=https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/the-michigan-bill-is-a-danger-for-the-political-discourse-proton-slams-verification-laws-turning-vpns-into-a-liability|publisher=techradar.com|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref>

So:

: If HB 4938 actually passed as written and were enforced literally, yes, it would very likely hit corporate VPNs and WFH in Michigan.

Realistically, though:
* It’s stalled (no hearings or votes yet).FastDemocracy<ref>{{cite web|title=FastDemocracy|url=https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/mi/2025-2026/bills/MIB00027583/|publisher=fastdemocracy.com|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref>
* It would almost certainly face immediate constitutional challenges (First Amendment, privacy, commerce, etc.) and massive pushback from business, education, and civil-liberties groups.
* In practice, if it moves at all, it would probably be heavily amended or tied up in court before an ISP actually starts dropping all VPN tunnels.