A Virtual Private Network (VPN) protects your data, obfuscates your web browsing activity, and can help you get around geo-locking restrictions and censorship. In most countries, the use of VPNs is entirely legal. However, some countries, including Belarus and Iraq, completely prohibit their use, and other countries like Russia and China, limit how these services can be used.
It’s also important to remember that anything illegal is still considered illegal – just because you’re doing it behind an anonymous IP address doesn’t change that. And, even in countries where their use is legal, some companies attempt to prevent users from accessing their websites and services using VPNs. In most countries around the world, the use of VPNs is completely legal and there are no restrictions placed on their use. This is true in the UK, USA, and most of Europe, as well as Australia. While VPNs are legal in these countries, their use must comply with the general laws of the country. For example, it’s illegal to use a VPN to conduct illegal activities such as copyright infringement in both the USA and UK. In European countries, the European Union supports privacy rights, and views VPNs as a tool to increase user privacy and security.
According to technology journalist Mark De Wolf, Australia’s inclusion in the 5-Eyes Alliance means the government can spy on your online activities and even take over your devices. While trying to find the best VPNs for Australia can be a challenge, using them allows residents to keep their browsing activity and other online behaviors away from spying eyes. This is more important than ever as all our banking and private information can be attacked if precaution is not taken online.
Countries Where VPNs Are Illegal
VPN usage can be prevented by governments that want to censor the content their citizens view. In the case of some countries, VPN usage has been restricted to ensure that users are forced to use state-owned communication companies and prevent the use of cheaper Internet communication services.
VPNs are illegal in Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. While VPN usage is not strictly illegal in Myanmar, the government has been actively preventing the use of these services and preventing their use, so legal prohibition may follow soon. Although there are different reasons given for making VPNs illegal, it is generally done to prevent residents from being able to access general Internet sites and is viewed as a form of government censorship.
- In Belarus, VPNs are illegal, along with the Tor network, primarily to stop the spread of any anti-government messages.
- In Iraq, it is claimed that VPN usage is restricted to prevent ISIS from being able to manipulate social media.
- Any Internet usage in North Korea is heavily restricted and it is meant primarily for use by government officials. VPNs are also illegal, and accessing foreign information in the country can be punishable by death.
- Turkmenistan is another country with heavily restricted Internet access, with most people only able to access the Turkmenet. This is meant to restrict access only to websites that are in the official Turkmen language, but the Turkmenet only contains heavily censored, government-approved information.
Countries Where VPN Usage Is Restricted
As well as those countries that completely ban VPN use, there are many countries where the use of these networks is heavily restricted. Typically, governments in these countries either control the permitted VPNs themselves or require that VPNs provide them with data logs, which negates some of the benefits of using the networks in the first place.
China
Strictly speaking, VPNs are legal in China, but for a VPN to operate in the country it must pass government approval. To gain approval, a VPN typically has to agree to conditions such as data logging, which negates many of the benefits of using one. Users found guilty of using an unofficial VPN can be fined up to the equivalent of $2,000. However, due to heavy Internet and social media censorship, many Chinese citizens use virtual private networks to access the web.
Iran
Similarly, in Iran, only government-approved VPNs are legal, and it is highly likely that these services track user data and render their services largely useless. The fine for using an unsanctioned virtual private network is a maximum of one year in prison.
Oman
Oman has slightly more complicated VPN laws. Regular citizens are not permitted to use VPNs, but corporate VPN services can apply to the Sultanate to be licensed for use. Theoretically, this enables businesses to access global websites, but the VPN services must keep logs of all activity. Fines of up to $1,300 are levied against those who break the rules.
Russia
Russia has strict policies against the use of VPNs, and these rules have become stricter in the past two years. There is a chance that all VPN usage might be made illegal in the coming months or years. Currently, only approved VPNs are legal, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are forced to block websites belonging to other networks. Fines of up to $5,000 are made against individuals using unlicensed networks, while the networks themselves can be fined up to $12,000.
Turkey
Turkey bans the use of the Tor network and heavily restricts which VPNs are available for its citizens. The government claims it restricts access to help prevent terrorist activities, and in the past couple of years, more than a dozen VPN services have been banned.
United Arab Emirates
In 2012, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned the use of most VPNs for individuals. They did so to prevent the use of VoIP communication services, effectively forcing users to pay the high subscription fees of state-owned telecom companies. Now, citizens can only use government-approved services, but businesses and corporate entities can use VPNs without any restrictions. Fines of up to $135,000 can be levied against any individual found to be doing anything illegal using a VPN.
Other Laws Still Apply
Regardless of VPN laws and restrictions, users are subject to the same laws of the country where they are located when using a VPN, and not the country where the VPN or its server is located. This means that doing anything illegal using a VPN is still punishable by the same laws.
Companies Blocking VPNs
In countries where VPNs are still legal, some users might report problems being able to access certain sites or services using Virtual Private Networks. Netflix, for example, maintains a list of IP addresses that it believes are used by VPNs and may block access to their services from these IP addresses. The best VPNs will update their IP address list regularly, effectively enabling users to still be able to access geo-locked content.
Crowdsourced VPNs use individual users’ IP addresses to help circumvent this problem further. VPN users can also connect via different servers, which will reset their connection and assign a new IP address, effectively allowing connection to services.
Conclusion
VPNs offer several benefits to users, including opening up geo-locked content. Combined with regular data backups and other security best practices, VPNs can also help protect user privacy and security. In most countries of the world, their use is unrestricted. However, there are countries where VPN usage is not only restricted but against the law. Penalties can range from the equivalent of $1,000 to time in prison or, in the case of North Korea, potentially even the death penalty. Travelers should always be aware of the rules before traveling and using a VPN in any country they visit.
