Are VPNs Legal or Illegal in 2024? Latest VPN Laws by Country

VPNs are legal in most locations except restrictive countries like North Korea, Belarus, and a few others. In some countries like China, VPNs are heavily regulated. Since the law on VPNs can change frequently in some regions, it’s difficult to keep track of their legality.

To save you from legal issues when traveling abroad, I researched the status of VPNs worldwide. I’ve compiled a list of countries where VPNs are restricted, but note that the laws concerning censorship and privacy can change at any time in these and other places.

After testing over 30 leading services, I’ve concluded that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for restrictive countries as all its servers are obfuscated — it even works consistently in China. What’s more, a ou can try ExpressVPN confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Is Using a VPN Legal?

Using a VPN is legal in most countries like the US, UK, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, and more. If VPNs are not banned in your location, they can:

• Enhance privacy and security — a VPN encrypts your data, shielding it from potential hackers and eavesdroppers.
• Secure communication — you can share confidential data via chat or email without fearing that it’ll be intercepted by spies.
• Protect financial transactions — I t’s safer to send money and shop online with a VPN on public WiFi as it encrypts your traffic.
• Prevent cyber attacks — top gaming VPNs prevent potential DDoS attacks that can overwhelm your network with requests and disrupt your gaming sessions.
• Overcome network restrictions — school and workplace networks often block social media and other sites. You can regain access to your accounts with a VPN.

When Is Using a VPN Illegal?

Even if VPNs aren’t banned where you are, using one to perform these activities is still considered illegal:

• Online piracy — using a VPN to download or share copyright protected content, like movies, music, or software is illegal and constitutes copyright infringement.
• Transacting illegal goods — buying and selling drugs, stolen data, and illicit firearms is illegal though they’re common on the dark web.
• Cybercrime — hacking, stalking, and cyberbullying are criminal offenses that can be prosecuted whether or not you use a VPN.
• Restricted jurisdictions — you can’t use a VPN in countries where it’s banned. Some countries restrict VPNs and only allow you to use government-approved ones.

Additionally, most streaming services don’t allow you to use a VPN to watch shows that aren’t available in your country. Doing so violates their licensing agreements with production companies. If you’re caught, your account could be terminated.

Why Is It Illegal to Use a VPN in Some Countries?

There are many reasons why a country would ban VPNs:

• Government control — some governments control internet access and the type of information consumed by citizens to protect their interests.
• National security — restrictive countries argue that VPNs can be used to conceal illegal activities like terrorism and cybercrime, which are already difficult to trace.
• Censorship — countries can block inappropriate or controversial content such as porn due to cultural and moral reasons, but VPNs can make them accessible.
• Local Laws and Regulations — in certain jurisdictions, VPNs are illegal because they get in the way of local law enforcement. For instance, countries with strict online gambling or copyright laws may ban VPNs to prevent access to prohibited sites and services.
• Economic reasons — restricting VPNs can benefit local telecommunication companies, which forces people to buy their plans instead of using free VoIP services on FaceTime and WhatsApp.

In Which Countries Is Using a VPN Illegal?

Belarus

The Belarus government has made VPNs illegal to suppress dissent and limit access to unregulated information. It also banned privacy-focused technologies like Tor, Signal, and Telegram in 2015. The local ISPs use deep packet inspection to examine the contents of your data packets.

Violators face serious fines and even imprisonment. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and independent news platforms are blocked in Belarus. Any news outlet with differing reports and views from the state-controlled media is made sure not to reach the public.

China

You can only use a government-approved VPN in China. These VPNs log your data in compliance with local laws so they don’t protect your privacy. Non-approved VPNs don’t even appear in app stores in China while the Great Firewall blocks WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and many other services.

Using unauthorized VPNs can result in fines of over $2,000 and imprisonment. However, there have been no reported cases of foreigners being punished for using VPNs. The country is more focused on improving the technologies used to block VPNs instead.

Egypt

VPN legality is a gray area in Egypt. There’s no explicit legislation banning VPNs, but one law criminalizes accessing sites like Al Jazeera, Masr Al Arabiya, and various VoIP services. The ambiguity lets the government control information and suppress dissent during political unrest.

The Egyptian government uses deep packet surveillance to monitor internet traffic, ensuring that online activities don’t go against the state policy. The Anti-Cyber and Information Technology Crimes law requires ISPs to store user data so that it’s accessible to authorities.

Iran

You can only use government-approved VPNs in Iran and they log user data. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and streaming services are blocked. This includes sites containing opposing social and political views and non-Islamic content.

According to Iran’s Protection Bill of 2022, you can be fined up to $4,000 or be sentenced to jail for up to 2 years. Although actual arrests have been rare, there are risks to using unapproved VPN services.

Iraq

Iraq’s government banned VPNs in 2014 to prevent ISIS from exploiting social media for recruitment. Online content is also controlled to combat propaganda and limit the public’s access to politically sensitive and morally objectionable content.

The legal consequences of using a VPN in Iraq range from a fine of up to $8,000 to imprisonment. However, penalty enforcement is uncertain and reports of arrests and prosecutions are rare.

Myanmar

After the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s junta restricted VPNs to curb potential dissent. The 2022 Law on Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection prohibits VPNs that haven’t been approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC).

If caught using a non-approved VPN, you can be fined up to $2,500 and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Punishments can be severe for criticizing the government using a VPN. In 2023, 5 people in Hakha, Chin State, were fined $28 for using non-approved VPNs.

North Korea

VPNs are banned in North Korea and the government practices extreme internet censorship. The country has a state-controlled intranet called Kwangmyong to maintain ideological control over its citizens. It only provides access to government-approved content.

Even so, the network is only accessible in major North Korean government offices, universities, and a small number of cybercafes in major cities. More and more North Koreans, however, have been accessing the Kwangmyong in recent years with mobile phones.

The global internet is forbidden in North Korea, except for the highest-ranking government officials and other elite members of the society. The few foreigners who visit North Korea may have access to the 3G network, but even for them, using VPNs is off-limits.

Oman

Only VPNs approved by the government are allowed in Oman and they have to keep user logs. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) requires ISPs to block VoIP services in apps like Skype and FaceTime to protect local telecommunication companies. Pornographic content, sites with offensive material, gambling, and opposing political views are also banned.

Using an unauthorized VPN in Oman can result in fines of up to $2,600. For enterprises, this figure could go up to $130,000. The TRA might also throttle or suspend your internet indefinitely and in rare cases, confiscate your devices if you’re involved in illegal activities.

Russia

Russia’s Sovereign Internet Law requires VPNs to register under the Federal State Information System (FSIS) and give the state enormous surveillance power. Independent global media like the BBC is censored to protect the state narrative. While Telegram was previously blocked, the ban was lifted in 2020.

The Russian government cites national security for censoring anything that goes against its ideologies. Any organization found using an unauthorized VPN can be fined up to $12,000 and suspended from activities, while individuals can be fined up to $5,000.

Turkey

VPNs are a gray area in Turkey. The state telecommunications authority can block websites and content related to Kurdish issues, LGBTQ+ rights, content offensive to the Islamic religion, and pornographic material. It has also blocked social media platforms during uncertain times in the past.

While using a VPN isn’t explicitly illegal, the Turkish government uses deep packet inspection to monitor if a VPN is used to access the above content. If found guilty, you face a fine of up to $1,300.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan criminalizes VPNs. The state-run Turkmentelecom is the sole ISP, which monitors and regulates internet use and acts as the government’s arm. The country has blocked most social media platforms to curb western influences and protect state interests.

Turkmenistan’s censorship is comparable to that in Belarus, China and Iran. VPN users can be fined or imprisoned if caught, though penalties haven’t been specified in the law. Authorities can also throttle or suspend your internet and increase surveillance if suspicious.

Uganda

Technically, VPNs are legal in Uganda but severely restricted. The law requires VPNs to be authorized by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). Uganda has a history of government censorship and surveillance, particularly during elections.

Using a VPN can raise red flags for Ugandan authorities, and they can increase your online surveillance. Although rare, Ugandans have been arrested for using VPNs to access banned social media platforms.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has blocked sites and content considered harmful to its national security, local culture, and religious values. This includes those that criticize the government, publish LGBTQ+ content, and porn. VoIP services in WhatsApp and FaceTime are also blocked to benefit state-owned telecom companies like Etisalat and Du. However, you can still use the apps for text messaging.

While considered legal, VPNs are strictly regulated in the Emirates. Misusing a VPN can lead to heavy fines of up to $500,000 and imprisonment.

How Do Countries Enforce VPN Bans?

Restrictive countries use multiple ways to enforce VPN bans and censorship. Here are a few methods:

• Blocking VPN domains and IP addresses — governments direct ISPs to block VPN websites and IP addresses, making it hard to download the apps and use them.
• Deep Packet Inspection — ISPs detect VPN traffic by examining the contents of your data packets.
• Legal penalties — countries impose hefty penalties to discourage people from using VPNs.
• National firewalls — similar to China’s Great Firewall, a national firewall can regulate and monitor all internet traffic within its borders.
• Mandatory data retention laws — ISPs are required to store user data, which can include information about VPN usage.

Is It Possible to Bypass VPN Blocks?

Yes, it’s technically possible if the VPN has these features, but likely illegal and therefore I don’t condone it:

FAQs About the Legality of VPNs and Internet Censorship

Get a Top VPN That Works in 2024

If you’re traveling to a high-censorship country, research the local VPN laws beforehand. Otherwise, you risk getting penalized. Penalties can range from fines to imprisonment. To save you time and effort, I’ve compiled a list of countries where VPNs are illegal or heavily restricted.

A top VPN like ExpressVPN works in every country thanks to its advanced server network. Note that I don’t condone using a VPN to violate any law in any country. But if you’re concerned about security and privacy, you can try ExpressVPN confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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