Torrenting copyrighted material is generally considered illegal in Germany. This can result in fines and law firms (read: copyright trolls) monitor popular torrents for German IP addresses. The law applies not only to the traditional type of torrent you get from ThePirateBay or KickassTorrents, but also to apps that use torrents to stream videos like Popcorn Time and sites with counterfeit content like Couchtuner and Project Free TV. With regard to the use of the Internet, the citizens of Brunei have been subject to State surveillance. Cases of charges made as a result of social media posts have also been reported. However, using VPNs is legal. Iceland is known for its lack of censorship in general and this also applies to internet use. As expected, VPNs are legal in Iceland. Residents of South Sudan are also subject to online censorship, and the country recently made headlines for blocking several major media outlets. Using VPNs is legal here. VPNs are legal in the Bahamas.
However, there are reports that the government is trying to introduce censorship. The Tongan government has passed laws that allow it to censor the internet by blocking websites. Nevertheless, the use of VPNs is legal here. With China`s “Great Firewall” in its entirety, VPNs have become extremely popular among residents and visitors alike. The firewall blocks many popular websites such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube. To support the movement, the government has taken serious action against VPNs by blocking providers` websites. However, this doesn`t always stop people from using a VPN, as you don`t necessarily need to access the VPN website to use any of the native apps. China would also use deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect and block VPN traffic. However, some VPNs may use superior stealth technology to avoid detection. Meanwhile, using a VPN isn`t entirely illegal, but there have been selected cases where VPN providers have been arrested and convicted. In 2017, VPN apps were removed from Apple`s App Store in China at the request of the government.
Although press freedom has been questioned in Curacao, there are no reports of online censorship. Using VPNs is legal here. The use of the VPN is legal in Georgia. Although the country has gone back and forth when it comes to general surveillance and censorship. In the past, there were many grey areas regarding how exactly and by whom internet activity was monitored. Recently, however, a law has been passed that ensures more privacy for users. Although using a VPN is legal in Liberia, residents experience censorship and surveillance. In addition, press freedom is considered restricted in the country due to censorship.
The internet in Guyana is not censored or restricted by the government and VPNs are legal here. Guatemala is not known for its freedom of speech, and citizens of that country are unlikely to enjoy much privacy online. However, using VPNs in Guatemala is legal. The big question is: is it illegal to use a VPN in Germany to stream geo-blocked content? The answer depends on the streaming provider, as their terms and conditions state whether they allow it or not. VPN use is legal in Angola, although the country has a history of internet censorship. In November 2016, a crackdown on social media was made very public by the Angolan president. He passed the controversial press law, which many say poses a serious threat to freedom of expression. Mozambican citizens can legally use VPNs and it is likely that they wish to do so. Since the government spies on everything from phone calls to messages from the chat platform, a VPN might be the only thing that could help. While VPNs are legal in Serbia, citizens are subject to the suppression of freedom of expression online.
VPNs can be used legally in Guinea-Bissau, where citizens can also use the internet without restrictions. Citizens of Gabon can use VPNs legally, but they are not as free when it comes to general internet use. In addition to temporary and permanent shutdowns of sites like Twitter, the government has even imposed an internet outage here, allowing residents to surf the internet for only 12 hours during the day and not at all at night. While VPNs are legal in Bulgaria, the government is looking to better control internet usage. It also currently monitors online activity and requires ISPs to provide real-time access to internet traffic. Madagascar`s government has yet to restrict the internet, although the country is not without media censorship. Using VPNs is legal here. Using VPNs in Bangladesh is legal. However, the country`s government has banned some websites in the past, including social media sites like Facebook.
It is also known to shut down the internet completely, both “accidentally” and intentionally. The use of VPNs is legal in the Dominican Republic, and their citizens enjoy unlimited access to the internet. VPNs are also legal in Cambodia, but the country has a history associated with internet surveillance and censorship. The Cambodian government actively monitors online activities and suppresses freedom of expression.
