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This article is intended to provide general and educational information and is not legal advice.
While VPNs may conjure up images of illegal activities and mysterious characters on the dark web, in fact VPNs are currently legal to use in many countries, including the US, some VPNs encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address and prevent others, such as the government or Internet Service Providers (ISPs), from tracking your virtual location.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons for wanting this degree of privacy, but you must understand what is considered legal and illegal while using a VPN. * It is the responsibility of VPN users to determine whether their use of a VPN is legal (or not), and to check their country’s laws before using a VPN.
Where are VPNs illegal?
Every country has a different stance on VPNs, and not all of them are considered favorable. Currently, a handful of governments are either regulating or blocking VPNs. These countries currently include Belarus, China, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, to name a few. Still others have Internet censorship laws, which makes using a VPN very risky.
Depending on the country, governments may fine both the citizen and the VPN service provider for using an unauthorized VPN. In addition to the laws that vary from state to state, laws in the United States can vary from state to state. In some countries, banks and companies are free to use VPNs. Generally, governments justify these decisions as preventing terrorist or criminal activity.
VPNs may be legal in some countries, cybercrime or infringement is not
It is currently legal to use a VPN in the United States. However, if you are using a VPN to commit an illegal act without a VPN, then using a VPN is still illegal. This may include downloading and selling copyrighted information, hacking computers or networks without permission, and online stalking. Additionally, using a VPN to circumvent a website or app’s technological protection measures (such as geo-locking) may violate the law in some countries, as well as the VPN’s website and terms of service.
Use common sense. Before signing up with a VPN provider, read the terms of service and make sure you agree to them. The terms will likely state that you are responsible for any illegal activity on your part, and the VPN provider may also say that it will report suspected fraud or illegal activity to law enforcement. Also, read the terms and conditions of any service you use, such as Netflix, to ensure that you are not violating their terms while using a VPN.
Is private browsing right?
The call for a reasonable right to privacy has been fervent for several years. In 2018, Congress voted to repeal regulations meant to protect internet privacy. As a result, businesses can now sell customers’ browsing and search history to marketers and monitor and track their web browsing habits.
Why are VPNs used?
VPNs are widely used by people and organizations who are looking for an extra layer of internet privacy protection, and a powerful VPN achieves this goal. Here are some typical reasons people use a VPN and the features that make it useful.
To use public Wi-Fi privately and securely
Public Wi-Fi providers usually don’t encrypt their internet connections, which means tech-savvy criminals with a Wi-Fi password can eavesdrop on your internet browsing. But if you log into public Wi-Fi and then connect to a personal VPN that encrypts data, it will hide most of your web traffic from prying eyes.
To access content anywhere, as if you were at home
If you can’t live without watching the latest episode of your favorite series while traveling, a VPN can help you access your content as if you were in your family room. Even though you are on the move, some VPNs allow you to choose a server in your country. Check your VPN’s terms of services and streaming location, and the laws of the country you’re traveling to to determine if your use is a risk.
To maintain the privacy of the Internet
VPNs can provide some privacy online by preventing advertisers and other third parties from collecting information about you. If the VPN is without a log, the service provider will not track or record your online activities, which increases your privacy.
To bypass restricted networks at work or school
Many US-based schools and companies impose internet browsing rules on their students and staff as a matter of course. You can consider using a VPN if you need to access certain materials for legitimate reasons. Of course, check your company or school’s policies and be careful to ensure that your use does not violate these policies or the law.
*Disclaimer: The topic of legality/illegality of VPNs in certain regions around the world is an ongoing debate, and what is legal today may not be next month or year. Further, this Article (1) is not exhaustive and (2) should not be relied upon as legal advice to consumers, and (3) is focused on the United States only.
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