We heard you’ve asked – are VPNs legal? And the answer may simultaneously be a ‘yes’ and a ‘no.’ It’s because of how different countries look at this service. While it’s okay for some countries to let their people use VPNs, others consider it a forbidden sin.
That difference in perspective and the subsequent legislation has confused the users. Hence, this article examines where, how, and why VPNs are legal in some areas and illegal in others.
What makes VPNs useful?
Before discussing whether or not VPNs are legal, let’s take a quick look at how VPNs benefit most users.
Secure corporate networks
Government organizations, large businesses, and other corporate firms remain vulnerable to cyber attacks. If these entities do not apply an additional security layer, like a VPN, they will suffer various damages from losing sensitive data to intellectual property.
Facilitate privacy-savvy netizens
From journalists to cybersecurity researchers and the public, VPNs facilitate everyone to protect privacy. These apps prevent them from prying eyes, web trackers, and intrusive ads as they mask their IP addresses.
Protect users on public WiFis
Public Wi Fi almost always harbor cyber criminals because malicious actors can find many victims on these unsecured networks. However, a VPN protects people from interception and cyber attacks when connected to public Wi-Fi.
Prevent eavesdropping and network interception
Cybercriminals can eavesdrop on your communication from VoIP to text messages and calls without much effort. However, since a VPN encrypts all the data, it prevents potential network interception and subsequent eavesdropping.
Evade content restrictions
One of the most common reasons people use VPNs is to unblock websites and access restricted content. That includes accessing geo-restricted Netflix and Hulu content as well as other websites.
While this is not always illegal, it may be a grey practice. Hence, it entirely depends on the content you access as a VPN user.
Where are VPNs legal?
Nearly every nation globally, including the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and most of Europe, has legalized VPN services. However, you should still follow the laws of the country where you are physically situated and not the laws of the nation through which your traffic was routed.
Furthermore, some VPN services can offer servers (by extension changing IP addresses) even in countries that have banned or restricted VPNs. For instance, ExpressVPN has servers in Turkey and Belarus, where VPNs are prohibited.
Using these VPN servers is lawful if your physical location is not included in the restricted regions. This is because sometimes VPN services use remote virtual servers that aren’t located in the nation listed on their labels.
For example, ExpressVPN’s virtual servers show Turkey and Belarus but are both physically situated in the Netherlands, where VPNs are permitted.
Importantly, not all VPNs are secure, nor are they all made equal. Once you’ve established the legality of VPNs in your country, you should consider other factors that can compromise your online security, such as a kill switch, no-log policy, encryption, and other security features.
Paying attention to the region’s laws on torrenting and digital rights is paramount. Therefore, you should choose a reliable VPN.
Why do people question privacy protection tools?
The two primary causes are a lack of education and a negative reputation brought on by criminals who use privacy tools.
Individuals who don’t understand how a VPN works are more likely to be skeptical of VPN services because they tend to believe various VPN misconceptions. These people fail to understand the mechanisms that keep VPNs running.
When you activate the software, all of the internet’s (nearly) unpleasant features, such as pop-up ads and various limitations, vanish. To some, this resembles magic, which they find frightening.
People’s misconceptions of VPNs are another factor. For example, some criminals use VPNs to access the dark web, while others use them to go around the law or engage in unlawful online activities. In short, criminals use VPNs to elude capture, escape the law, and blend in with the public. As a result, some individuals associate illicit activity with the term “VPN.”
Why do VPNs face bans?
VPNs aren’t generally illegal.
Yet, the services occasionally face numerous restrictions from the governments of different countries.
Usually, a blanket ban in these areas may be attributed to the underlying legislation regarding the crackdown on criminal activities.
Because of their private and stealth operation, criminals use VPNs to execute malicious actions.
Below, we quickly list out the various activities that constitute the dark side of VPNs:
- Hacking others’ systems and computer networks
- Malware and ransomware attacks
- Data breaches
- Eavesdropping and cyberstalking
- Illegal file and data sharing
- Distributed pirated content
- IP Spoofing to access blocked content
- Sale/purchase of prohibited articles, weapons, drugs, as well as stolen data
And the list can extend to include many more issues.
Using VPNs for any illegal, immoral, or prohibited activity makes VPNs questionable.
Hence, the list of countries scrutinizing or banning VPNs is quickly increasing. While this may help the authorities crack down on criminal elements, it causes problems for all those who use VPNs for legitimate reasons.
Where are VPNs illegal?
Though a few in number, these countries have entirely labeled VPNs as ‘illegal.’
The following countries have constituted strict legislation prohibiting the use of VPNs, violating which may lead to dire consequences:
1. Iraq
Iraq tops the list of those early countries that entirely banned VPNs.
The ban dates back to 2014, when the authorities implemented this step to contain terrorist organizations, mainly ISIS.
Precisely, they wanted to restrict ISIS from manipulating people via social media. Hence, the ban even extended to block various social media apps too.
Since then, severe internet restrictions and censorship rules have been in place. Off and on, the authorities even shut down the internet for various reasons. And this goes on even after wiping off ISIS operations from Iraq.
The latest internet crackdown happened in October 2019 following anti-government protests. This shutdown affected around 75% of Iraq’s population.
In short, Iraq’s legislation entirely declares VPNs illegal without any exceptions. However, government officials often use VPNs despite the law.
2. Belarus
Belarus is another country with harsh laws for VPN use. The government has strict internet legislation often revolving around users’ tracking. Since VPNs evade such attempts, Belarus has labeled VPN usage as illegal.
For instance, in 2012, Belarus implemented content restrictions and levied a fine of $120 for any attempts to access blocked content. While the blocked content initially included extremist content and pornography, the authorities restricted other content, such as news agencies.
Then, in 2015, they completely banned VPNs and other services that facilitate anonymized internet use. These services conflict with another law that came into effect back in 2007. It required all internet cafes to log customers’ identification details and browsing history.
After VPNs, Belarus also blocked Tor in 2016. Hence, making it impossible (on top of being illegal) for anyone to use these services. Violating the laws would lead to unspecified fines.
3. Turkmenistan
The third country not allowing VPNs is Turkmenistan. But before you ask, ‘Why are VPNs illegal here,’ let us tell you that this country doesn’t particularly hate VPNs. Instead, they generally have very harsh legislation regarding the freedom of the Internet.
To be precise, Turkmenistan currently offers internet services to its users via only 1 ISP!
You read it right. This single entity, Turkmen Telecom, is a state-run ISP that explicitly bans the use of VPNs or proxies. Hence, all the data remains under surveillance by authorities.
Also, sources reveal that the overall cost of internet packages is way too high for an average person to afford. Therefore, it is an indirect step from the authorities to limit internet use.
4. North Korea
The last country on the list where VPNs are illegal is North Korea. In fact, it’s not about VPNs only; rather, North Korea prohibits access to any foreign content.
These restrictions even apply to foreign diplomats also.
The locals can only use “Kwangmyong” – the country’s internal internet version of the internet.
Besides these brief details, little information is available about the exact legislation regulating these measures or the fines in case of violations. Thanks to North Korea’s heavy censorship.
Countries are marking VPNs as ‘restricted.’
However, only four countries in the world have marked VPNs as illegal.
Does that mean that the rest of the world allows such services? Are VPNs legal there?
Well, the answer to these questions is somewhat complicated.
While these countries do not explicitly label VPNs as illegal, they do not treat them as legal services.
Here, we list those countries that do not explicitly mark VPNs as illegal yet restrict their use.
1. China
Apart from the Great Wall of China, the other wall China is known for is the Great Firewall of China!
To build this wall, China has developed strict laws that prevent foreign elements from intruding on the country’s internet world.
These laws include severe logging, tracking, blocking foreign content, controlling how people use social media, etc.
For instance, in 2015, China amended its Criminal Code rules to include punishments for spreading fake news. Under these rules, a person may face imprisonment between three and seven years. While the law sounds fine, the problem here is that it does not explicitly define ‘fake news’ here.
Also, China has compelled all IM service providers to ensure identity verification for all their customers. It means customers must use their real names and reveal their true identities online, and failing to do that will levy various fines on the service providers. As stated in the Initiatives to Counter Fake News: China,
Where service providers fail to authenticate users’ identities, the competent authorities may order them to rectify their wrongdoings, suspend their businesses, shut down their websites, revoke relevant licenses, or impose a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan (about US$7,500 to $75,000) on the service providers and/or 10,000 to 100,000 yuan (about US$1,500 to $15,000) on the responsible persons.
Likewise, they have developed similar rules and taken various draconian steps to regulate internet use. Not to mention that they have developed their search engines and social media apps, like Baidu and WeChat.
Given such rules, how they treat services like VPNs that conflict with their laws is pretty clear.
Anyhow, it’s not that China deems VPNs illegal. However, they require VPNs to register in China while agreeing to their terms and conditions, including VPN logging.
According to the reports, China started implementing this step in 2018 to regulate cross-border operations.
It’s pertinent to note that China has been blocking Tor since 2012. After that, VPNs were left as the only option to adopt online anonymity. However, the Great Chinese Firewall has hindered this option as well.
And today, using illegal VPNs (all unregistered ones) can levy fines of up to 15,000 yuan (approximately $2200).
2. Iran
Are VPNs legal in Iran? That is just another tricky question.
Unlike Iraq, Iran hasn’t labeled VPNs illegal but actively cracks down against these services when needed.
The ban on VPNs by Iran began in 2013 when the country blocked ‘illegal VPN ports’ used to access blocked content.
Since then, people can only use non-government-sanctioned VPNs, often leading to surveillance. Whereas the punishment for using illegal VPNs may extend to 1 year of imprisonment.
Ironically, the Iranian government has also actively developed MTProto – a censorship circumvention tool. Using this tool, people can access blocked apps such as Telegram. Explaining the reason behind this step, the Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, said,
If we do not improve the management of the demand [for circumvention tools], every Iranian will find his or her own particular way to gain access [to blocked websites and apps],
He added,
Then you will be faced with 80 million different paths. How are you going to manage that situation?
(We leave it up to our readers how they interpret this development.)
3. Russia
Like China, Russia has also restricted VPN use by allowing only the ones it approves.
This ban occurred in 2017 when the State Duma (lower house of the Parliament) passed a bill restricting VPNs to limit extremist content. However, that does not apply to the legitimate use of allowed VPN services.
Until this point, things seem okay. However, the problem begins with introducing secondary legislation that monitors internet freedom and, indirectly, VPNs.
For instance, in 2016, they introduced the Yarovaya law. It’s an anti-terror law that levies punishments of up to 7 years to spread or endorse ‘terrorism’ – a word that the law doesn’t explicitly define.
The government requires telecom firms and ISPs to log users’ data to implement this law. As elaborated by The Guardian,
The legislation obliges telephone and internet providers to store records of all communications for six months and all metadata for three years and help intelligence agencies, decode encrypted messaging services.
Likewise, in 2019, the State Duma approved a ‘Fake News Bill’ that blocks websites promoting misinformation or featuring anti-state content.
To implement such laws, Russia bans VPNs and frequently blocks other encrypted communication services, such as ProtonMail and Telegram.
Russia took this move for the latter after Telegram refused to cooperate and provide decryption keys to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) following a 2017 metro bombing. Though, Russia unbanned Telegram apparently after reaching an agreement with Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov.
Yet, the restrictions on VPNs still continue.
4. Oman
Oman was one of the early countries that restricted VPN use. While VPNs are legal here, the authorities only allow the approved VPNs to work.
This ban dates back to 2010 when Oman prohibited VPNs for individuals. It only allowed VPNs to be private and public institutions – that too – after approval.
Meanwhile, violation of rules levies a fine of 500 Omani Rial (almost 1,300 USD) on individuals and 1,000 Omani Rial on companies lacking permits.
This ban occurred as the government tried to contain censorship bypass and VoIP use. Also, the Sultanate of Oman does not bear any criticism of the Sultan, hence somewhat restricting the freedom of expression.
5. Turkey
Are VPNs legal in Turkey? Indeed, yes, but only with restrictions.
Turkey is another country on this list that banned VPNs to prevent censorship bypass. Also, the country does not allow any criticism of the government.
In 2014, Turkey adopted the Law Amending the Law on State Intelligence Services and the National Intelligence Organization that permitted the National Intelligence Agency (Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı, MİT) to access personal data even without a court order.
The same year, another law empowered the Telecommunications Directorate (Telekomünikasyon İletişim Başkanlığı, TİB) to block websites “without prior court approval.”
This harsh internet regulation in Turkey even extended up to the blocking of Wikipedia, which remained banned for about two and a half years.
Such legislation is still being made as and when needed to regulate online content.
For example, in 2019, the country amended its internet regulations to oblige all media providers, such as Netflix and YouTube, to register with the state television and radio regulator RTÜK.
These laws clearly hint at why Turkey blocks VPNs and Tor anonymity networks.
6. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Like all other countries mentioned above, the UAE also heavily restricts VPN use, with exceptions being approved.
Also, while the UAE does not explicitly oppose VPNs, using VPNs to commit fraudulent activities is a punishable crime. The subsequent fines may range anywhere from Dh500,000 to Dh2,000,000.
Aside from monitoring typical crimes, the VPN ban also occurred due to the region’s heavy content censorship. The country prohibits anti-state or anti-religious content, nudity, online gambling, racism, fraud, and hate speech.
UAE also doesn’t allow VoIP, blocking the use of Skype, WhatsApp, and others. The authorities wanted to stem financial losses to the telecom sector due to VoIP.
Hence, using VPNs to execute these prohibited activities can lead to fines and imprisonment.
7. Uganda
Uganda is one of the most recent countries joining the list of nations hating VPNs. The authorities blocked VPN usage in 2018 when the public vowed to evade social media tax.
Meanwhile, the government imposed the weird tax in an attempt to curb gossip.
Are VPNs legal in my country?
Perhaps, after going through the list of countries that have banned VPNs by law, you might wonder about your country’s policies regarding VPNs.
So, before you ask, ‘Are VPNs legal in my region,’ let us tell you some good news. A majority of nations globally have allowed VPN use.
By the word ‘allowed,’ we mean that using VPNs isn’t illegal by law. However, governments can still keep an eye on VPN use whenever necessary.
Despite considering VPNs legal, the following countries aren’t as VPN-friendly as the others. They have notable digital rights restrictions in place.
From surveillance to content censorship, these regions often implement rules that contrast with the purpose of VPNs.
| Cambodia | Cuba | Ethiopia | India | Indonesia | Malaysia | Pakistan | Saudi Arabia | UK | US | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | VPNs are legal in Cambodia. | VPNs are legal in Cuba but with strict filtering. | A grey area but doesn’t mark VPNs as illegal. | Uncertain. Most VPN companies shut down their Indian physical servers after the government passed a new law requires them to store users’ personal information. | VPNs are legal in Indonesia. | VPNs are legal in Malaysia. | VPNs are partially legal but require registration with PTA. | VPNs are legal in Saudi Arabia. | VPNs are completely legal in the United Kingdom. | VPNs are completely legal in the US. |
| Reasoning | The government filters and blocks immoral and anti-government content | The Government does not want its people to access harmful foreign websites. | The government filters internet content promoting terrorism or critical to the government. | VPN companies were expected to comply with the law by 25 September 2022. However, most of them moved their servers. | The government conducts strict filtering and blocks all pro-terrorism, violent and disturbing content. | The country has seen various websites blocked for political reasons. | Often blocks websites with content related to blasphemy, porn, racism, and violence | Saudi Arabia filters all content deemed to go against the Monarchy’s values. This includes LGBT+ content, gambling, and porn. | N/A | N/A |
1. Cambodia
While VPNs are legal in Cambodia, they are also common in countries with intense surveillance and censorship.
Though this surveillance doesn’t affect social media directly, the country does not allow immoral or anti-government content, which it employs tracking.
2. Cuba
Cuba has no problem with using virtual private networks or VPNs. However, despite the high internet costs, the region applies pervasive internet censorship.
3. Ethiopia
Ethiopia represses freedom of expression and, thus, freedom of the internet for political purposes.
It doesn’t mark VPNs as illegal. However, it does implement active internet filtering of content critical to the government or promoting terrorism.
4. India
India didn’t have severe restrictions in place in the past. However, following the 2008 Mumbai Bombings, the country changed its regime.
It then took several repressive steps, including selective content filtering, that eventually compelled Reporters Without Borders to list India as an “Enemy of the Internet.”
The government has since been taking restrictive steps due to various political reasons.
Recently, when India scrapped Article 370, it imposed the worst internet shutdown in its occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir. After several months, the government began restoring the internet with selective filtering and a 2G connection.
However, despite VPN use being completely legal, even in Kashmir, India began a crackdown on VPN users upon noticing VPN misuse.
Besides, India has banned numerous Chinese social media apps following its skirmish with China. Also, it blocked multiple websites that hosted pro-Khalistan content.
In brief, VPNs are completely legal in India. But given the growing censorship, it won’t be a surprise if the nation soon joins the list of Russia, China, or Iran.
5. Indonesia
Like India, VPNs are legal in Indonesia as well. However, this country also employs surveillance and content monitoring to contain violent, disturbing, fundamentalist, or pro-terrorism content.
For instance, in 2016, Indonesia banned Netflix, YouTube, and three other popular platforms for hosting prohibited content. However, these platforms remain accessible via VPNs.
Besides, the country now bears a history of banning social media apps following the deadly Jakarta riots in 2019.
6. Malaysia
Malaysia once used to be a repressive country concerning internet censorship.
However, time and again, they iterated their pro-freedom stance regarding internet use. Even in 2011, the then Prime Minister vowed to keep the internet free.
However, in the following years, until 2018, there were several instances when the government blocked different sites. For example, in 2013, the country’s ISPs blocked YouTube and Facebook media on political grounds.
Nonetheless, in 2018, after the end of the years-long Barisan National rule, the new government announced abolishing laws repressing internet freedom.
However, they still implemented surveillance measures to contain immoral content.
Despite all these measures, VPNs still remain completely legal in Malaysia.
7. Pakistan
In Pakistan, VPNs are legal as they were in the past. However, things have changed recently as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) asked for VPN registration.
According to PTA, this process has been in vogue since 2010, yet it recently drew attention in June 2020. Stating the details of this process, PTA’s press release reads,
As per applicable Rules and Regulations, appropriate registration is required from PTA for any mode of communication in which communication becomes hidden or encrypted… Action will be taken only against unauthorized VPNs for terminating illegal traffic, which causes loss to the national exchequer.
Initially, the deadline for registration was June 30, 2020, but PTA extended this date to September 30, 2020.
For now, the rule applies to VPN registration only. However, it isn’t clear how things would proceed after that. Pakistan authorities have a history of internet censorship that came into the limelight when Pakistan blocked Facebook and YouTube in 2010 and some other websites due to blasphemy.
Since then, Pakistan has multiple times blocked YouTube, Flickr, and other websites due to their strict regulations regarding blasphemy, pornography, anti-state material, racism, violence, and the like.
Even recently, Pakistan banned five online dating apps due to immoral content. If the services comply with Pakistan rules, PTA is open to reconsidering this decision.
Around the same time, Pakistan warned TikTok and Bigo to regulate explicit, immoral, and unlawful content. Also, they have asked YouTube for significant content moderation.
Besides, Pakistan has robust internet filtering that blocks several thousands of websites containing prohibited content. Although, due to generalized filtering, it has also affected some legit websites.
Considering this censorship, it’s likely that Pakistan would regulate VPN use. However, at present, VPNs are wholly legal and draw no attention to legitimate use.
8. Saudi Arabia
After knowing about UAE, you might wonder, “Are VPNs legal in Saudi Arabia?” Well, the answer is ‘yes.’
However, that doesn’t mean that KSA supports internet freedom. It actively monitors users’ online activities and employs content censorship. Predominantly, this censorship revolves around immoral content, anti-government material, or Shia ideology.
Saudi Arabia reroutes all internet traffic through its proxy established at the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) to achieve these goals. Here, they have implemented a Secure Computing-based filtering system.
The most recent incident of active internet censorship happened after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, banning foreign news outlets.
So, VPNs are yet legal. However, given the increased surveillance, we can’t be sure when these services will become illegal in the country.
9. The United Kingdom
Using virtual private networks or VPNs is entirely legal in the United Kingdom. Also, the region holds a good reputation regarding internet freedom.
However, it doesn’t mean they have no internet surveillance; they are part of Five Eyes and 14 Eyes. The nation has adopted strict policies to curb immoral content, including pirated content, pornography, violence, etc.
For instance, in 2013, then PM David Cameroon implemented content filtering to block such content by default.
Likewise, in 2018, a debate arose in the UK regarding breaking encryption to prevent the malicious use of such services.
Hence, while VPN usage isn’t a big deal there, VPNs may face some trouble if used for illegal purposes in the future.
10. The United States
The United States does not prohibit VPN use.
Nonetheless, the country also employs heavy internet censorship and surveillance by the NSA PRISM program. This has been so extensive that Reporters Without Borders listed the US and the UK among the ‘Enemies of Internet Freedom.’
How are VPN bans enforced?
There are various ways that VPN bans can be enforced:
- Legal penalties. VPN use may be illegal or subject to legal penalties in some countries. In these cases, law enforcement agencies may take action against persons who use VPNs.
- Deep packet inspection. This technology allows nations to identify and block VPN traffic by analyzing the transmitted data packets. This can be more difficult to bypass, but some VPNs have implemented measures to try and evade DPI.
- Provide free VPNs approved by the government. Besides evading geo-blocks, another use of a VPN is to conceal your identity. So, using approved VPNs beats this purpose and exposes your data to third parties. Free VPNs make money by selling user data to third parties.
Compel VPN service providers to permit access to servers situated in the region. Such prerequisites do not align with most VPN companies’ no-log policy. As a result, they cannot host servers there.
How do countries execute VPN bans?
Countries may choose a VPN ban enforcement method depending on the level of strictness, with some implementing more strict measures than others. Here are the most common methods used by countries to enforce VPN bans.
- National firewall enhancements: Some countries continually upgrade their national firewalls, allowing them to detect and block VPN traffic and evasion techniques effectively.
- Surveillance and monitoring: Government agencies consider VPN users suspicious because they think they are doing something illegal using this tool, leading to a potential investigation.
- Domain and IP address blocking: The government blacklists all VPN-related websites and IP addresses, rendering them inaccessible.
- Legal penalties: People or businesses caught using VPNs face fines or legal consequences.
- Deep Packet Inspection: This technology detects and blocks VPN traffic by examining and monitoring traffic patterns.
- ISP cooperation: The government works with ISPs to block VPN servers and protocols through advanced filtering mechanisms.
Which VPNs are legal to use?
In countries where VPNs are legal, users can choose any consumer VPN. However, some countries like China require citizens to register their VPNs with the government. All unregistered VPNs are heavily restricted and illegal.
So, when choosing a VPN, consider its security and privacy features. Some have a sketchy track record, while others engage in shady practices that could compromise safety.
We recommend avoiding free VPNs because they are unsafe. Some collect your data and sell it to data brokers, while others use weak encryption algorithms that can easily expose your identity. For instance, SuperVPN was hit by a data breach that exposed thousands of users’ data.
Below are other examples of free VPNs found guilty of exposing users to privacy and security threats.
- UFO VPN: Data breaches, logging user data and exposing it
- Hoxx VPN: Leaking your real IP address
- Hola: Logging your online activity and stealing bandwidth from other users.
- Betternet: Allowing advertisers to harvest user data.
We tested numerous VPNs by analyzing their performance, security, and privacy features and picked the top 5 VPNs that can work in any country. The VPNs listed below are legal in all countries where VPNs the use of VPNs is allowed. The table below summarises our top 5 VPNs you can use worldwide.
| NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Private Internet Access (PIA) | Surfshark | PrivateVPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Avg speed (Mbps) | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+ Mbps | 100+Mbps |
| Supported Devices | Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers | Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Routers | Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers | Android, Windows, MacOS, iOS, Amazon Fire TV |
| Number of servers | 5,400 | 3,000 | 35,000 | 3,200 | 200+ |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 |
| Best Deal (Per month) | $3.29 | $6.67 | $1.79 | $2.30 | $2.00 |
How to bypass VPN blocks
You should choose a VPN carefully if you’re in a VPN-restricted country to bypass VPN blocks. Ensure that you read the terms and conditions of the VPN you plan to ensure your privacy and security are not compromised.
Free VPNs collect user data and have limited functionalities, thus exposing you to privacy and security risks. For this reason, it’s advisable to use paid VPNs. Also, avoid government-approved VPNs.
When using a reliable VPN service, spoofing your location is a breeze. For example, if you’re in China and connect to a server in the United States, say, New York, the information you provide will be routed to the server. In this manner, you can access any blocked content you want.
Premium VPNs have quality features such as a kill switch, encryption, many servers, obfuscated servers, no logs policy, etc.
What could happen if you use a VPN illegally?
If you use a VPN illegally in a country where it is prohibited, you risk legal fines, imprisonment, or both. You may also be subject to other legal consequences, such as having your internet connection terminated or being banned from accessing certain websites or services. You should familiarize yourself with VPN regulations in your country. If you are unsure whether using a VPN is legal in your region, seek guidance from a reputable source.
Is it safe to use a VPN if my country doesn’t allow It?
Of course not.
If you reside in one of the regions where VPNs are restricted or illegal, you’ll likely be punished for that.
However, the generally anonymous impression of VPNs may make you think, “How would I be caught using a VPN when I remain anonymous online.”
However, the fact is you are traceable in these countries. It’s because law enforcement and other authorities apply robust surveillance systems in these regions through which they can detect VPN IPs.
So, even if you use a highly secure and best VPN, the undecipherable data on an anonymous IP will signal the tracking authorities about the VPN use.
And, once caught, you will not only face punishments for using a VPN. But also, you will face more than one charge that would include the purpose you used a VPN for, such as accessing blocked content or using a blocked service.
However, most countries usually limit these laws to local citizens only. Hence, if you’re a foreigner residing in one of the repressive regions, you may not be at risk. Still, make sure that you use VPNs for legitimate purposes only.
The legality of VPNs amidst censorship and restrictions
Understanding VPNs and illegal activities
While cybercriminals use VPNs to facilitate illegal activities, this has nothing to do with the VPN service provider. For instance:
- Illegal file sharing– File sharing is not illegal until you share copyrighted material or files such as music or commercial software.
- Hacking– It is prohibited to access digital platforms without authorization. Using a VPN or not is illegal, regardless of your motivation. Just because you’re anonymous while using a VPN to hack a website doesn’t make it legal.
- Restricted content– Some content is forbidden to own, exchange, or distribute. Examples include prohibited forms of pornography, privately held data that is not your property, and restricted financial data.
- Cyberstalking– Virtual stalking and harassment are prohibited by law in most countries. While using a virtual private network (VPN) will protect your anonymity, it will not make your acts lawful.
Consequences of Illegal VPN Use
The legality of media streaming with VPNs
Using a VPN to watch movies from a legal streaming service is not against the law, provided VPNs are legal in your region. However, many streaming services, like Netflix, frown upon this because of license concerns. In reality, certain ISPs actively seek out and prevent VPN usage.
Your right to private browsing
You’re entitled to some privacy in the digital realm. But today, even the most liberal nations are easing restrictions allowing firms to collect, utilize, and even sell your personal information. While using a VPN, it is crucial to consider any omissions’ tiny details and implications. ‘No logging’ claims of most VPN service providers may be invalidated, for instance, if the VPN service is situated in the United States, where data retention rules apply.
How to choose a safe VPN?
Several factors are essential to consider when choosing a safe and secure VPN:
- No-log policy: Look for a VPN with a no-log policy, meaning it does not keep any logs of your online activities or personal information. This ensures that the VPN provider does not collect or store your data.
- Kill switch: The feature is a safeguard that automatically disconnects your network connection if the VPN connection drops. This helps prevent unencrypted data from being transmitted over the internet, protecting your privacy and security.
- Obfuscated Servers: They are designed to bypass internet censorship and other online restrictions. Obfuscated servers achieve this by using various techniques to disguise the VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, making it harder for authorities or other third parties to detect and block.
- Leak protection: To protect users against various types of leaks, such as DNS leaks, IP leaks, and WebRTC leaks, many VPNs offer leak protection as a standard feature. This can include blocking IPv6 traffic, disabling WebRTC, and using secure DNS servers. It’s essential to check whether a particular VPN service offers leak protection before signing up and familiarize yourself with how to use it within the VPN software.
- Double VPN and Onion over VPN: These features improve the security and privacy of a VPN service. Double VPN entails routing your connection through two VPN servers instead of one, thus creating an additional layer of encryption. Onion VPN combines two technologies: An onion Router (Tor) network and a VPN. When using Onion over VPN, your internet traffic is first routed through a VPN server, which encrypts it. The encrypted traffic is then sent through the Tor network. This adds an extra layer of anonymity to your connection, making it even more difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
- Reliable customer support: Look for a VPN provider that offers customer support around the clock, as you never know when you might need help. The support team should have a quick response time, a knowledgeable team, and multiple support channels.
Conclusion
Here, we wrap up our detailed answer to every internet user’s most frequently asked question, ‘Are VPNs legal.’
As you have understood by now, using a VPN is not illegal unless a country deems it to be. However, exploiting this valuable service for malicious purposes has made VPNs’ overall stance questionable.
That’s why different nations have adopted harsh laws to limit or block VPNs for use by their people.
Thankfully, the number of such regions is still deficient. Most countries have no problem with legitimate VPN users despite having harsh rules.
Considering this situation, we may expect to see a gradual inclination of the repressive nations to use VPNs if every user makes sure to use a VPN for legitimate purposes only.
As the end-user, you need to choose a VPN that respects your privacy and serves the purpose you want to use it for.
If you haven’t used a VPN before, we highly advise you to go through our ultimate VPN guide before starting.
FAQs
VPNs are generally not illegal in many parts of the world owing to their legitimate uses. VPNs serve numerous good purposes that benefit people by protecting their privacy and circumventing cyber attacks. Hence, apart from the countries employing harsh, repressive mass control, VPNs are not illegal anywhere else.
Only four: Iraq, Belarus, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. The rest of the countries have various restrictions but do not consider VPNs entirely illegal.
Yes. Norway is among those countries that bear the highest internet penetration rates. Thus, you can be sure that using a VPN is no big deal in Norway.
If your country does not explicitly block VPNs or mark them as illegal, you will face no legal issues while using a VPN. However, ensure you do not use VPNs for immoral or criminal activities. Otherwise, you’ll likely be caught and punished for malicious use sooner or later.
Yes, it is. However, you should note that while VPN use is legal in the US, there may be certain restrictions in certain circumstances. For example, illegal activities or accessing content that is copyrighted or otherwise protected by law.
All consumer VPNs are entirely legitimate in nations where VPN use is permitted. However, in countries like China, where VPN use is strictly regulated, users must register their VPNs with the authorities or else be rendered illegal.
Paid doesn’t always mean secure. Some signs of a safe VPN include an encryption feature, no logs policy, reputable history, transparency reports and audits, and additional security features such as a kill switch, server security, and leak protection.
VPNs encrypt your internet connection. Using a VPN, you may browse anonymously online. People use VPNs to hide illegal activity. Most VPN users aren’t violating the law and merely safeguarding their privacy. If you use a VPN to mask your location, your online activity might be bound by the laws of the country where the server is located, not simply the location where you’re accessing the internet.
Overall, it is generally acceptable for employees to use a VPN abroad. Still, it is important to check local laws and follow company policies to ensure compliance with government laws and policies and protect the security of the company’s network.
Even the police can’t decrypt a secure connection. However, they can contact your ISP and request connection logs. Your provider will have nothing to provide if they’re trustworthy.
Netflix has licensing agreements with content creators that restrict the availability of certain TV shows and movies to specific regions. Therefore, the use of a VPN violates the terms of service. As such, Netflix bans the use of VPNs.
It refers to a statement by the VPN service provider indicating that it has not received any secret legal orders requiring it to disclose user information to government agencies or third parties. The announcement is updated regularly to give users transparency and assurance about their privacy and security.
Countries that prohibit VPN use have strict rules for their residents. Tourists aren’t immune from local VPN restrictions, just like they aren’t from driving regulations. If you visit a country where VPN use is prohibited, you should avoid the act or risk legal fines or jail time.
