Every once in a while, an internet user goes through all kinds of troubles while using the internet, but if there is one thing that internet users hate the most it is geo-restrictions. Geo-restriction has become a global headache, it is basically the act of completely restricting or limiting access to internet users based on their geographical locations.
These kinds of restrictions are mostly administered by major streaming services, as well as gaming, gambling, and sports sites. Other than that, this tactic is also used by governments, one such example is China. China is widely known for its strict geo-restriction policies as they have restricted access to a wide range of services in the entire country due to privacy and security issues.
A lot of people also confuse geo-restriction with geo-blocking which is why we thought it would be better to clear out this misconception before we dive deep into the topic. Here’s a brief explanation of how both geo-blocking and geo-restriction work in real life.
Geo-Blocking – Geo-Blocking is a restriction that completely blocks you from using that service if you are in a specific region. For example, people outside the U.S. can not open Hulu and as soon as they open it, they get an error message like “Hulu is unavailable in this country.”
Geo-Restriction – Geo-Restriction is when you get to access some of the content, this means that the content on a website or application is tailored according to the region. The most common example of geo-restriction is Netflix, when a user opens Netflix in the UK he might see that some content might not be available that is available in the US.
The Purpose of Geo-Restrictions
One question that a majority of internet users ask is why geo-restrictions exist. The most simple answer to this question is because of internet censorship and licensing agreements. One other reason why companies opt for geo-restriction policies on their services is that it allows them to save money. For example, big streaming services know exactly where a certain type of content would be appreciated and where it wouldn’t be appreciated.
Can It Be Bypassed?
Geo-restrictions annoy almost all internet users which is why everyone is looking for ways to bypass them. The simplest way to bypass geo-restrictions is with the help of a proxy or a VPN however, the people’s favorite is a VPN. The reason why using a VPN is a better option is that it’s more secure and can be easily found with a simple online search. For example, all you have to do is search for something like “Free VPN” and you would find tons of options such as Nord VPN, Ivacy VPN, and Express VPN.
Is it Illegal to Bypass geo-restrictions with VPN?
It is said that bypassing geo-restrictions is illegal with a VPN but that is not true. However, by using a VPN to bypass restrictions, you would be violating the company policies and terms of service. For violating these policies your account could get blocked by the service provider but in most cases, this doesn’t happen because you are a customer and you are paying them for the services.
Why Some VPNs don’t Bypass the Restrictions?
Major services such as Netflix and Hulu make millions of dollars every year and they are spending a lot of this money on their security and things like VPN-detection features. This is why is someone is using a free VPN it would be almost impossible to bypass these restrictions, however, in such cases, you can bypass these restrictions with premium and paid VPNs.
