Is using a VPN legal?

A perfectly normal question - and one with a perfectly simple answer. Yes. 

Have you ever seen one of those videos which asks “what is something that feels like it should be illegal, but isn’t?” Most of the time they show you something that really doesn’t seem very illegal, like a website that lets you do surveys for barely any money, and it’s a huge let down. 

Well - using a VPN really can feel like it should be illegal because it unlocks so much and can change the way you use the internet for the better. And guess what? It isn’t. In most countries on the planet, it’s completely legal.  

Why having a VPN is the best 

Having a VPN on your side lets you do so much different cool stuff that you just can’t without one, so it’s kind of surprising that it’s absolutely legal to use one in the vast majority of countries in the world. 

The advantages are pretty obvious. 

Be where you want to be, when you want to be there. Unlock the world’s content without geography-based restrictions. Stop taking crazy risks with your data and leaving your personal information up for grabs. Stay anonymous online. You don’t get these kinds of features legally any other way. 

With a VPN, you do

The idea that it should be against the law to increase your online security is crazy, when you think about it. People have been using anti-virus software, avatars and pseudonyms online since the beginning of the internet, so why wouldn’t we want to protect ourselves as best we can when it comes to our data and location? 

Watch your back 

In countries like the UK and the US, it’s become more and more necessary to worry about whether your data is secure or not. 

Their governments have passed laws in the last decade which have given them the power to snoop on what you’re doing online, and that is absolutely not cool. 

Depending on where you are in the world, the protections your VPN can offer will vary with the law. It also depends where the VPN provider you’re using is based - if they’re based in the UK, or the US, they can be forced to hand over your details to the government because of regulatory powers that help these governments to track down criminals. 

Sometimes you want to do things without anyone watching. Like clipping your toenails, or inspecting your Pokémon cards. And that’s fine. No one needs to see how weird you are in your everyday life. 

Why should it be any different online?

If you’ve got a VPN already, don’t be dumb. 

Much like wearing tights on your head doesn’t make it legal for you to rob your local café, using a VPN does not make it legal to do illegal stuff online, even though using a VPN is entirely legal in most countries. 

If you’re doing illegal things online, you should probably stop that. You might get caught. Also depending on what kind of illegal stuff you’re doing online, you are probably not a very nice person. We hope your parents are proud. 

Most governments will still try and track you down if you engage in illegal activity online, and even though a VPN will protect your anonymity - there are other ways for them to find out who you are and what you’re up to. So - in conclusion - stop doing illegal stuff. Be nice. 

Where are VPNs not legal? 

Only a tiny number of countries actually ban the use of VPNs, or only let you use them with restrictions on their use.

• China (heavily restricted) 

China’s national firewall strictly controls the data that it is possible to access when you’re inside the country’s borders. Think of it as the Great Firewall of China. That’s why it’s very difficult to get your VPN working when you’re there - businesses can, but individual’s VPNs probably won’t work. 

• North Korea (illegal)

Shocker, the most censorship heavy country in the world doesn’t let their citizens circumvent geoblocking and find out about the rest of the planet. 

• Iraq (illegal) 

Many sites and services are blocked but usually not as effectively as in China or North Korea. Still, if you’re there, best stay off your VPN. Iraqi prison is not a joke. 

• Belarus (illegal) 

VPNs have been banned in the European country since 2015. 

• Russia (illegal)

Russian bans VPNs outright, but not VPN traffic, yet. 

• UAE (legal, but with restrictions)
• Egypt (legal, but with restrictions)
• Turkey (legal, but with restrictions)

As you can see, it’s a list of all the real cool guys with totally normal governments. Sorry if you’re from any of these countries, we’re sure you’re super great if you’re reading this. But your government is mean and won’t let you use something which pretty much everyone else on the planet can, so maybe it’s time to consider moving.

It is still possible to download and use a VPN in those countries of course, but we certainly wouldn’t recommend doing so. Most of those places don’t mess around when it comes to punishing those they believe to have broken the law. 

Confused? 

That’s understandable - VPNs are still pretty new technology and they’re seriously powerful too. 

It’s not every day you can virtually transport yourself to an entirely different part of the world completely anonymously! 

There’s one thing that isn’t confusing though: in the majority of places you’ll be in the world, it’s totally legal and legit to use a VPN and you’re welcome to do so. 

So what are you still here for? Download BlufVPN today and start legally taking advantage of the best the internet has to offer.