Is using VPN legal?

Are you wondering “Are VPNs legal in my country?” Read on to find out!

People want to have more privacy when they are on the web, and they want to remain as safe as possible. Inevitably, their search leads them to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and when they start to look at how VPNs work and the benefits they offer, they start to question whether this kind of service is legal or not.

It Is Legal… Usually

Fortunately, the answer is yes. In most countries, people have the legal right to privacy, so there should not be issues when it comes to utilizing a VPN service. Of course, this is not the case everywhere. There are some countries, such as China and Iran (see full list below), that do not believe their citizens should have full privacy. These countries might ban VPN services from operating within the borders, and they could even try to block some users from accessing a VPN service from another country.

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Which countries don’t allow the use of VPNs?

Belarus – Banned
Iraq – Banned
North Korea – Banned
Oman – Banned
Turkmenistan – Banned
China – Partially Blocked
Iran – Partially Blocked
Russia – Partially Blocked
Turkey – Partially Blocked
The UAE – Partially Blocked

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VPNs Are Legal for the rest of the world

Many countries today, even countries that you might not expect, have increasingly broad surveillance laws. France and the UK are two prime examples. With the rise of terrorism, they have started to increase their surveillance laws.

It is important to keep in mind that those laws can sometimes affect the type of services allowed to operate there. The UK and France, from the previous example, require that the providers of VPN services keep logs of their users’ activities while online.

Something else you should keep in mind is that even in countries where it is not required to keep logs, it does not mean that the providers are not keeping them. Therefore, you should always make it a point to check and see whether the VPN company you are considering using keeps any types of logs whatsoever.

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What About Torrents or Streaming Services?

Using a VPN with Netflix is legal. There are no fines or punishments for it. However, the most popular streaming service doesn’t exactly encourage it.

People who want to use these types of services will often want to use them to streaming videos, such as Netflix or HBO Max. The catalogs for these services are much vaster in places such as the United States, so it makes sense that people would want to “spoof” their IP addresses so they can get the most from their subscription. Many of the VPN services available explicitly offer this as an option. That is not the case with all of them though, so you will need to check to see whether it is available through their service or not.

The same holds true for those who want to torrent. As long as the provider allows torrents through their service – and they are usually forthcoming about whether they do or do not – you can. If you are unclear over whether they will allow torrents or not, you should certainly check with them first. This is typically the safest way to torrent.

Normally, when you are torrenting a file, everyone who is on the server and who is downloading the file would have access to your IP address. Naturally, this is not something you want to have happened, and that is where the VPN helps. With the VPN, you will not have to worry about everyone having access to your IP address. The VPN hides it, so the only thing people on the P2P service will see is the IP of the VPN.

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Some Things Are Never Legal

A good VPN provider wants to keep you safe and help you ensure your privacy when you are on the web. When using a provider for legal purposes most countries do not have a problem with it. It is when someone starts to use the VPN service for illegal purposes that trouble occurs. There are bad people out there who abuse the power of VPNs to engage in seriously heinous activities, and they give others who want to use the service for privacy a black eye.

High-quality VPN providers will still prohibit illegal activities on the web including things such as child pornography, hacking of accounts and emails, spreading viruses, spamming, theft, and running scams. Companies do not want to be associated with people who do those things, and if a VPN is entirely open with an “anything goes” policy, you do not want to be associated with them.

Online activities that are illegal remain illegal, whether you’re using a VPN or not. These include:

Illegal file-sharing or torrenting copyrighted material
Hacking
Spamming
Cyberstalking
Fraud, theft, scamming
Child Pornography
Buying, selling or downloading on the dark web

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Know the VPN You Are Choosing

As you can see, a VPN will allow you to do a number of things on the web without worrying that someone else is going to follow your activities and find out all of the sites you’ve been visiting. When you want privacy, you cannot beat a VPN. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and that is why it is so important for you to take the time to research VPNs; rather than simply using the first one you find. Always be sure to read through the policies of the service so you understand whether they keep logs and what they do and do not allow.

A good VPN can do a lot for you. They will keep your privacy when you are surfing on the web, and everyone deserves to have privacy. In addition, they have the ability to help keep you safe from hackers and others out there who might want to do you harm. With a good VPN service, you can use the Internet the way you want to use it.

Ready to choose a VPN? Check our list of best value VPN Service Providers to help you pick a fast, secure VPN service that’s right for you!

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Check If your VPN is legal in your country

Afghanistan ✔

While the Afghani government is strict when it comes to websites like those related to pornography, alcohol, gambling, and others in that scope. The use of VPNs is still legal in the country.

Albania ✔

The constitution of Albania protects its citizens’ right to freedom of speech and press. Not only is the Internet free from government censorship, but VPNs are completely legal.

Algeria ✔

In Algeria, ISPs are required to regulate and monitor online content, and though there have been some incidents of the government blocking certain sites, there are currently no bans on VPNs.

Andorra ✔

Andorra, one of the world’s most Internet penetrated countries, has no Internet censorship or government surveillance. Also, VPNs are legal to use.

Angola ✔

Although VPNs are legal in Angola, the country has made headlines for trying to threaten freedom of speech and access to information.

Antigua and Barbuda ✔

The citizens of Antigua and Barbuda can enjoy unrestricted use of the internet and there is no ban on VPN usage.

Argentina ✔

The use of VPNs in Argentina is legal and a good range of VPNs offer Argentinian servers. While there have been proposed laws to allow online censorship, these have yet to come into place.

Armenia ✔

There’s documented evidence of Internet filtering in Armenia, and social media has also been blocked in the past. Using a VPN is legal, though.

Aruba ✔

Citizens can access the Internet with complete freedom in Aruba. Plus, the use of VPNs is also permitted.

Australia ✔

Even though website-blocking is being used in Australia and telecom companies are required to store customer metadata for at least two years, VPNs are still legal and continue to be used by many citizens.

Austria ✔

The use of VPNs in Austria is legal, and its constitution ensures that the free speech and press of citizens are protected.

Azerbaijan ✔

Using a VPN in Austria is completely legal and the country’s constitution protects its citizens’ right to free speech and press.

Bahamas, The ✔

VPNs are legal in The Bahamas. However, there have been reports of the government attempting to introduce censorship.

Bahrain ✔

There are no laws barring the use of VPNs in Bahrain even though the government actively censors the press and the Internet.

Bangladesh ✔

The use of VPNs in Bangladesh is legal. However, the country’s government has banned certain sites in the past including social media sites like Facebook. It has also been known to shut down the internet completely, both by mistake and on purpose.

Barbados ✔

Citizens of Barbados can access the Internet without any restrictions. VPN usage is perfectly legal as well.

Belarus ❌ ✔

Belarus is one of few governments that has tried to crack down on the use of VPNs. In fact the country has banned any technology that anonymizes internet usage. While they’re not exactly illegal, VPNs along with Tor have been added to the list of sites with limited access. It was announced in 2015 that Tor would be blocked and it appeared that the block actually came into effect in late 2016. Even though it’s frowned upon and users may face fines if caught, VPN use still remains popular in the country.

Belgium ✔

The use of VPNs in Belgium is legal. However, there have been cases of internet censorship reported.

Belize ✔

Although there have been reports of Internet censorship in Belgium, using VPNs won’t land you in any legal trouble.

Benin ✔

The citizens of Benin can use the internet without restriction and the use of VPNs here is legal.

Bhutan ✔

The use of VPNs is legal in Bhutan. However, the government does impose restrictions on content that goes against its moral beliefs.

Bolivia ✔

While the use of VPNs is legal in their country, Bolivians do experience censorship, especially when it comes to the press and social media.

Bosnia and Herzegovina ✔

Even though the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has passed legislation that criminalizes social media content, there have been no reports of Internet censorship. Also, using VPNs is legal.

Botswana ✔

The citizens of Botswana can use the internet without restriction and the use of VPNs is legal.

Brazil ✔

While VPNs are legal in Brazil, there has been some issue with internet censorship in the country. The government tried to introduce a number of restrictions in 2016. There was also the temporary WhatsApp ban of 2015, although the ruling that resulted in this was quickly overturned.

Brunei ✔

While the government actively monitors the Internet usage of its citizens, VPNs are still legal to use in Brunei.

Bulgaria ✔

While VPNs are legal in Bulgaria, the government is seeking more control over internet usage. It also currently monitors online activity, requesting that ISPs provide real-time access to internet traffic.

Burkina Faso ✔

Internet usage isn’t very widespread in Burkina Faso, but it is unrestricted. VPN usage is legal in this country.

Burundi ✔

Burundi is another country where only a small portion of the population actually use the internet. However, users are subject to censorship, and in the past have had social media chat platforms like WhatsApp banned during times of unrest. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Cambodia ✔

VPNs are also legal in Cambodia, but the country does have a past associated with internet monitoring and censorship. The Cambodian government actively monitors online activities.

Cameroon ✔

The Cameroonian government has blocked Internet access multiple times in Anglophone regions of the country, affecting around 20% of the country’s population. VPNs can be used legally, though.

Canada ✔

While the Canadian government has been called on to ban the use of VPNs, no such initiatives have begun. At the time of this writing, using VPNs is legal in Canada.

Cape Verde ✔

The citizens of Cape Verde enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and the use of VPNs is legal here.

Central African Republic ✔

VPN usage is legal in the Central African Republic. However, the country has been known for citizen censorship, notably in banning text messages during a period of unrest.

Chad ✔

When it comes to internet usage, the citizens of Chad are monitored and restricted by their government. The monitoring becomes particularly prevalent during elections and complete internet shutdowns have been reported. VPN usage is, however, legal.

Chile ✔

While VPNs are legal in Chile, citizens have been the subject of internet monitoring in the past. Moreover, data retention laws in the country are progressing but their ambiguity has caused ongoing criticism.

China ❌

With China’s ‘Great Firewall’ in full effect, VPNs have become extremely popular with residents and visitors. The Firewall blocks many popular websites including Google, Facebook, and YouTube. To support the movement, the government has seriously cracked down on VPNs by blocking the websites of providers. However, this doesn’t always prevent people from actually using a VPN as you don’t necessarily need access to the VPN website to use one of its native apps. China has also been reported to use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to detect and block VPN traffic. However, some VPNs can use superior cloaking technology to avoid detection.

Colombia ✔

Colombians are able to access the Internet freely without any intervention or limitations by the government. The use of VPNs is also legal.

Comoros ✔

Residents of Comoros have uncensored internet access and the use of VPNs in this country is legal.

Congo, Democratic Republic ✔

Even though Internet shutdowns and social media blocks are a common occurrence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, VPNs are still legal to use in the country.

Congo, Republic of the ✔

Citizens of the Republic of the Congo have been known to face censorship and the government has even been known to completely shut it down. However, the use of VPNs is still legal here.

Costa Rica ✔

VPNs are also legal in Costa Rica, although the country has seen some controversy around internet freedom laws.

Côte d’Ivoire ✔

Residents of Cote d’Ivoire enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and are able to legally use VPNs.

Croatia ✔

VPNs are allowed in Croatia and citizens can use the internet without any issues of censorship.

Cuba ✔

While the government of Cuba is known for heavily censoring the Internet, the use of VPNs is still allowed in the country.

Curacao ✔

While freedom of the press has come under question in Curacao, there are no reports of online censorship. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Cyprus ✔

The Cypriot government does not impose any censorship on internet usage and VPNs are legal here.

Czech Republic ✔

The Czech Republic has one of the lowest rates of Internet censorship, but the online freedom of its citizens came under threat when the government attempted to introduce a system that would make identification on the Internet mandatory for every user. Using VPNs is legal in the country, though.

Denmark ✔

The government in Denmark does have the ability to impose online censorship in certain cases. It has also mistakenly blocked sites including Google and Facebook in the past. However, VPNs are legal in Denmark.

Djibouti ✔

Since the citizens of Djibouti are served by a single government-owned ISP, they don’t get to enjoy unrestricted Internet access and are forced to pay high prices. Using VPNs is perfectly legal, though.

Dominica ✔

Residents of Dominica don’t experience censorship when it comes to the internet and VPNs are legal here.

Dominican Republic ✔

The use of VPNs is legal in the Dominican Republic and its citizens enjoy unrestricted access to the internet.

Ecuador ✔

Ecuador does have a history of internet controversy with regards to the government illegally restricting access to certain sites. However, VPNs are legal in this country.

Egypt ✔

The use of VPNs in Egypt is legal, even though the country has a well-publicized history of cases where citizens’ rights of the press were violated. As for internet use, the government has recently blocked VoIP services on apps like FaceTime and Skype.

El Salvador ✔

While El Salvador has been in the news for issues related to freedom of information in the country, using VPNs is completely legal.

Equatorial Guinea ✔

Residents of Equatorial Guinea can legally use VPNs. However, this country’s government is infamous for issues regarding citizens’ freedom of the press.

Eritrea ✔

Eritrea is another country renowned for its censorship. However, with such a low percentage of the population having internet access, this isn’t a medium that the government imposes much control over. For now, the use of VPNs is legal.

Estonia ✔

Estonia, on the other hand, is renowned for being a free country and actually topped the Freedom on the Net 2016 index. As anticipated, the use of VPNs in Estonia is legal.

Ethiopia ✔

VPNs are allowed in Ethiopia, although it’s hard to believe that it will remain this way, given the country’s history with censorship. The Ethiopian government actually made the use of VoIP services a crime with a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Fiji ✔

The citizens of Fiji can enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and can legally use VPNs.

Finland ✔

While the use of VPNs here is legal, the Finnish government does have a bit of a history with internet censorship.

France ✔

The French government recently approved and adopted an anti-terrorism bill to expand police surveillance powers, and blocked over 2,700 websites in 2016. However, the use of VPNs is still legal in the country.

Gabon ✔

Gabon has made news for imposing a 12-hour Internet curfew and permanently blocking social media sites like Facebook. Using VPNs is legal.

Gambia ✔

The Gambia has been known to restrict internet access, namely during election periods. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Georgia ✔

Although the government has seesawed back-and-forth in terms of Internet censorship and surveillance, using VPNs is legal in Georgia.

Germany ✔

Germany has seen its fair share of controversy with respect to the government and the internet. As a result of the intent to censor social media, there has been much backlash from privacy advocates. That being said, the use of VPNs in Germany is legal.

Ghana ✔

VPNs are legal to use in Ghana, and this is recognized as one of the most forward-thinking African countries with regards to freedom and democracy. However, this country isn’t squeaky clean; a recent politically-motivated social media shutdown met with plenty of resistance.

Greece ✔

There are reports that Greece’s government is trying to impose internet censorship through site blocking. Even so, the use of VPNs in Greece is legal.

Grenada ✔

Though the government of Grenada has passed a law to punish people with lengthy jail terms or hefty fines for offensive online content, the use of VPNs is still legal.

Guatemala ✔

Guatemala is not known for its freedom of speech, and it’s unlikely citizens of this country enjoy much privacy online. However, the use of VPNs in Guatemala is legal.

Guinea ✔

Residents of Guinea get unrestricted internet access and can legally use VPNs.

Guinea-Bissau ✔

VPNs can be legally used in Guinea-Bissau where citizens can also use the internet without restriction.

Guyana ✔

The Internet in Guyana is not censored or restricted by the government and VPNs are legal here.

Haiti ✔

The use of VPNs is legal in Haiti, where citizens don’t have to worry about censorship when it comes to internet usage.

Honduras ✔

The use of VPNs in Honduras is legal, although internet usage has been controlled by the government in the past.

Hungary ✔

Even though the government recently passed new surveillance and encryption rules, VPNs are still legal in Hungary.

Iceland ✔

Iceland is known for its lack of censorship in general and this indeed applies to internet usage too. As expected, VPNs are legal in Iceland.

India ✔

The use of VPNs is legal in India, although there are regular restrictions imposed on internet users. The government is able to simply ask providers to go offline, and blackouts in specific areas are common, especially during times of protests.

Indonesia ✔

Indonesian citizens also experience censorship when it comes to internet usage, with the government blocking certain sites like Reddit, Vimeo, and Netflix. However, VPNs are legal in the country.

Iran ❌ ✔

VPNs are legal in Iran, but with a very large caveat. People can only sign up with a VPN provider that is registered and approved by the government. Using the type of VPN that would be useful to most people is not legal and carries a penalty of 91 days to one year in jail. That being said, arrests are rare as the government is reportedly less concerned with people accessing sites like Facebook and are more interested in using the VPN law to prosecute users opposing the government itself.

Iraq ❌

Internet usage in Iraq is heavily restricted. The government blocks social media sites, chat apps, and more. VPNs are not immune to these restrictions and their usage has been banned, reportedly to prevent ISIS manipulating social media.

Ireland ✔

The use of VPNs is legal in Ireland, although residents do experience some censorship when it comes to general internet usage.

Israel ✔

While Israel recently approved web censorship laws to tackle online crime, using VPNs is still legal in the country.

Italy ✔

VPNs are legal in Italy and the country’s citizens enjoy freedom when it comes to general internet usage.

Jamaica ✔

Residents of Jamaica can access the internet without government restriction and can legally use VPNs.

Japan ✔

The use of VPNs in Japan is legal, and the internet is generally restriction-free. However, with societal attitudes changing, there could be shifts on the horizon with regard to censorship.

Jordan ✔

The government of Jordan does impose some censorship on the Internet, especially when it comes to political issues. However, VPN usage is still legal.

Kazakhstan ✔

VPNs are allowed in Kazakhstan, although the country’s government is known to impose censorship on general internet usage. Most recently, there were reports of a social media crackdown to target human rights activists.

Kenya ✔

Kenya is known for its lack of censorship and internet freedom is no different. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Kiribati ✔

Citizens of Kiribati can legally use VPNs and enjoy unrestricted internet access.

Kosovo ✔

Residents of Kosovo are rightly wary about their privacy when it comes to the internet. Their government has access to all electronic communication data as a result of their telecommunication interception laws. In spite of this, VPNs are legal.

Kuwait ✔

The Kuwaiti government actively censors the Internet, with its new cybercrime law restricting free speech and targeting online activists. Luckily, VPN usage is still legal in the country.

Kyrgyzstan ✔

Kyrgyzstan is renowned for its censorship, especially when it comes to politics and journalism. That being said, VPNs are still legal in the country.

Laos ✔

The government of Laos heavily censors its citizens and their use of the Internet. Fortunately, using VPNs is still legal.

Latvia ✔

Latvia is known for being a very free country and this extends to internet usage for its citizens. As expected, VPNs are legal here.

Lebanon ✔

Lebanon is known for its censorship and the government has even once attempted to make VoIP usage illegal. Nonetheless, the use of VPNs is permitted in the country.

Lesotho ✔

The low proportion of Lesotho residents who use the internet do so without censorship. They can also legally use VPNs.

Liberia ✔

While using a VPN is legal in Liberia, residents here do experience censorship and surveillance. Additionally, due to instances of censorship, press freedom is deemed restricted in the country.

Libya ✔

There have been various reports from Libya that accuse the government of internet restrictions and interference. However, there is no ban on VPNs in the country.

Liechtenstein ✔

The use of VPNs by Liechtenstein residents is allowed and the country is known for its lack of censorship.

Lithuania ✔

The citizens of Lithuania generally enjoy unrestricted access to the Internet and can use VPNs legally as well.

Luxembourg ✔

Luxembourg citizens can legally use VPNs and access the internet without restriction.

Macedonia ✔

The residents of Macedonia are allowed to use VPNs and can access the internet without the government imposing censorship.

Madagascar ✔

The Madagascar government has yet to restrict the internet, although the country is not without media censorship. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Malawi ✔

VPN usage is allowed in Malawi and the general use of the internet is without restriction.

Malaysia ✔

Malaysia has had issues with Internet censorship in the past and its recent anti-fake news law raises concerns around media censorship. Using VPNs is still legal, nonetheless.

Maldives, The ✔

The use of VPNs in the Maldives is legal, although the country’s citizens do experience internet censorship. In particular, the government has been known to block dissident and anti-Islamic sites.

Mali ✔

Internet users in Mali can enjoy unrestricted access, and the use of VPNs here is legal.

Malta ✔

Malta’s citizens are allowed to use VPNs. However, there are concerns about the censorship of the internet in general. Some outlets claim that new media laws surmount censorship, while the government denies this is the case.

Marshall Islands ✔

There is no history of residents of the Marshall Islands experiencing internet restrictions, and the use of VPNs here is legal.

Mauritania ✔

While VPNs are still legal in Mauritania, the country has a murky past when it comes to internet censorship. There have been reported incidents of the government disregarding digital rights and it is believed that cybercrime laws cause the press to self-censor their information.

Mauritius ✔

Mauritius occasionally imposes Internet restrictions, including filtering content. However, there aren’t any reports of the government actively censoring the Internet, and VPN usage is legal in the country as well.

Mexico ✔

The citizens of Mexico are allowed to use VPNs and enjoy unrestricted access to the internet. However, this may be temporary as there have been moves made in the past to try to enact surveillance laws.

Micronesia ✔

Micronesia residents have access to uncensored internet and can legally use VPNs.

Moldova ✔

There have been inklings of internet censorship in Moldova, although usage remains mostly unrestricted. Also, the use of VPNs is legal here.

Monaco ✔

There are no credible reports of the Monaco government censoring its citizens’ use of the Internet. Also, VPNs are completely legal.

Mongolia ✔

Mongolia is known for its widespread internet censorship including a long list of words that are banned. Even so, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Montenegro ✔

While VPNs are legal in Montenegro, the country does have a history of internet restriction, including blocking messenger application WhatsApp during an election.

Morocco ✔

Morocco has banned lots of popular methods of online communication, including platforms like Skype and Facebook Messenger. Nonetheless, VPNs are legal here.

Mozambique ✔

Mozambique citizens can legally use VPNs and it’s likely that they’d want to. With the government spying on everything from telephone calls to chat platform messages, a VPN might be the only thing that could help.

Myanmar ✔

Myanmar does have a history of internet censorship, but the government seems to become less restrictive over time. What’s more, the use of VPNs in Myanmar is legal.

Namibia ✔

Namibian residents can legally use VPNs and have access to the uncensored internet.

Nauru ✔

Nauru has been in the news for enforcing internet restrictions, such as banning certain social media sites. However, VPNs are legal in the country.

Nepal ✔

While Nepal doesn’t actively monitor Internet activity, the government has made its intention of censoring its citizens’ Internet activities clear. Fortunately, using VPNs is legal.

Netherlands ✔

The Netherlands government doesn’t impose restrictions on the internet and VPNs are legal to use.

New Zealand ✔

New Zealand residents are allowed to use VPNs, although their online activity is subject to monitoring by the government.

Nicaragua ✔

The Nicaraguan government does not explicitly monitor or restrict online activities. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Niger ✔

Citizens of Niger can legally use VPNs, and the tiny portion of the population that uses the internet can do so without restriction.

Nigeria ✔

Nigeria has been at the center of controversy when it comes to internet censorship involving social media. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

North Korea ❌ ✔

North Korea is infamous for its censorship, with the government has blocked access to multiple social media sites. Instead of the internet, citizens of the country only have access to “Kwangmyong,” a national intranet. North Korea has also banned its diplomats from accessing the internet while overseas. Visitors to the country can access the internet via 3G but may not use VPNs. On the subject of VPNs, it’s not crystal clear whether or not they are legal. Some reports state that they are illegal, while others imply that certain providers are allowed.

Norway ✔

Norwegian citizens can legally use VPNs and can access the internet without worrying about government censorship or restrictions.

Oman ❌ ✔

While it’s not actually illegal to use them, many VPNs (those not sanctioned by the government) are blocked in Oman and have been since 2010. This is not all that surprising since the government heavily censors the internet and has published an ‘Internet Service Manual’ detailing possible criminal online activity. Also, it’s not uncommon to hear of arrests of bloggers and activists who have expressed controversial views online.

Pakistan ✔

The government of Pakistan has blocked a number of top sites such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook in the past. They also use Internet filtering in order to block users from accessing certain sites and content. The use of VPNs is yet to be outlawed, though.

Palau ✔

The residents of Palau can legally use VPNs and can use the internet without restriction.

Palestine, The State of ✔

The government of Palestine actively censors the Internet and media. Many websites have also been shut down due to political reasons. However, the use of VPNs is still legal here.

Panama ✔

The citizens of Panama can legally use VPNs and enjoy unrestricted access to the internet.

Papua New Guinea ✔

In Papua New Guinea, there are reports to suggest that new cybercrime laws mean that internet censorship by the government is on the horizon. Even so, VPN usage is legal.

Paraguay ✔

VPNs are legal to use in Paraguay and its citizens have access to the uncensored internet.

Peru ✔

Peruvians also enjoy unrestricted internet access and can legally use VPNs.

Philippines ✔

The Philippines government has so far refrained from imposing censorship related to internet usage and allows the use of VPNs.

Poland ✔

While the government of Poland recently passed a new law to increase government surveillance in spite of privacy concerns, VPNs are still legal in the country.

Portugal ✔

In Portugal, there is no internet censorship and VPNs are legal.

Qatar ✔

The use of VPNs in Qatar is legal, although this country’s citizens do experience censorship. While the government doesn’t get involved directly, ISPs are instructed to block certain sites, such as those with obscene content.

Romania ✔

Romania has been in the news for its laws against gambling websites, which may be used to apply more widespread censorship. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Russia ❌

If you’ve been reading about VPNs, you’ve no doubt come across news of the Russian VPN ban which was introduced in November 2017. While this ban, which is intended to “prevent the spread of extremist materials and ideas” blocks VPN websites, it doesn’t actually block VPN traffic. Those caught may face fines of up to 100%,000 RUB ($10,867) for the provider and 30%,000 RUB ($4,657) for the user. Although VPNs are banned, some providers still operate servers inside the country. However, in March 2019, the Russian government demanded access to servers located within the country. This resulted in some providers such as NordVPN shutting down their Russian servers.

Rwanda ✔

There’s evidence to suggest that the Rwandan government actively spies on its citizens’ and blocks news websites. VPN usage is legal here as well.

Saint Kitts and Nevis ✔

The residents of Saint Kitts and Nevis are allowed to use VPNs and can access the internet without restrictions.

Saint Lucia ✔

The Saint Lucian government does not impose restrictions on internet access and VPN usage is legal here.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ✔

VPNs are legal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, although the country doesn’t have a completely clean slate when it comes to internet censorship. The government recently passed a cybercrime bill that could see offenders spending two years in prison for online defamation.

Samoa ✔

The Samoan government doesn’t impose restrictions on internet usage by its citizens and VPNs are legal to use.

San Marino ✔

VPNs are legal in San Marino where residents can use the internet without being subject to censorship.

Sao Tome and Principe ✔

The Sao Tome and Principe government allow citizens to use the internet freely. They can also legally use VPNs here.

Saudi Arabia ✔

Surprising to many, the use of VPNs in Saudi Arabia is legal. This is in spite of the fact that internet usage in the country is subject to extremely heavy censorship. This involves arrests of people who speak out against the government and the blockage of hundreds of thousands of sites and apps.

Senegal ✔

Not only is freedom of the press routinely violated in Senegal, but also the laws allow the government to increase censorship should they want to.

Serbia ✔

While VPNs are legal in Serbia, citizens are subject to suppression of freedom of speech while online.

Seychelles ✔

The government of Seychelles actively tries to restrict its citizens’ Internet access, especially when it comes to silencing opposition activists. The usage of VPNs is still legal here, nonetheless.

Sierra Leone ✔

VPN usage is legal in Sierra Leone and the country’s citizens can use the internet without censorship.

Singapore ✔

The Singapore government has been known to actively censor internet usage including shutting down political sites and targeting government critics. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Sint Maarten ✔

Residents of Sint Maarten can use the internet without restrictions and can legally use VPNs.

Slovakia ✔

The residents of Slovakia have access to the internet without worrying about government restrictions, and the use of VPNs here is legal.

Slovenia ✔

VPNs are also legal in Slovenia and the government here does not censor internet usage.

Solomon Islands ✔

The Solomon Islands government steers clear of imposing restrictions on online users and the use of VPNs here is legal.

Somalia ✔

Somalia is renowned for actively censoring the Internet, with the government blocking access to news sites. The use of VPNs, though, is still legal in the country.

South Africa ✔

The South African government doesn’t tend to pose many restrictions on internet users, although its ‘Online Regulation Policy’ has come under fire. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

South Korea ✔

VPNs are legal in South Korea, although the country is renowned for its internet censorship. Reported incidents include the blocking of content that is deemed “subversive” and “harmful to the public order.”

South Sudan ✔

Residents of South Sudan are also subject to online censorship, and the country recently made news for the blockage of several major media outlets. The use of VPNs here is legal.

Spain ✔

The Internet in Spain is generally free from any kind of restrictions, though the country made news for blocking Catalan independence websites. Also, using VPNs is legal in the country.

Sri Lanka ✔

The government of Sri Lanka has censored internet activity in the past and has also blocked certain websites. That being said, VPN usage here is legal.

Sudan ✔

Sudan citizens can also legally use VPNs. However, there are various forms of ongoing online censorship including internet cafe raids and arrests of users.

Suriname ✔

The Suriname government stays out of the way when it comes to internet use and VPNs are legal here.

Swaziland ✔

VPN usage in Swaziland is legal, and residents are not subject to online censorship.

Sweden ✔

The Swedish government allows citizens to use the internet without restriction and VPNs are legal to use.

Switzerland ✔

Internet usage in Switzerland has been increasingly restrictive in recent years. In 2016, it made news for holding a referendum for a bill that allows the government to monitor internet activities. Even more recently, the government processed a bill that allows censorship in order to protect domestic gambling. That being said, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Syria ✔

The citizens of Syria do experience censorship and monitoring on the Internet. Incidents of human rights violations have also been on the rise. However, VPNs are still legal in the country.

Taiwan ✔

Though Taiwan doesn’t restrict its citizens’ Internet usage, it has attempted to do so in the past by proposing an Internet Blacklist Law which met strong resistance. The use of VPNs is still legal, nonetheless.

Tajikistan ✔

Tajikistan is known for its Internet censorship and legally allows its citizens to use VPNs. However, the idea of creating a government-controlled data gateway has raised concerns surrounding freedom of speech and privacy in the country.

Tanzania ✔

Tanzania actively censors the Internet and the situation only seems to be getting worse with time. VPNs are legal to use here.

Thailand ✔

There have been reports of blogger arrests and ISPs blocking websites in Thailand. However, using VPNs is legal in the country.

Timor-Leste ✔

Citizens of Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor) have the use of uncensored internet and can legally use VPNs.

Togo ✔

VPNs are also legal in Togo and the country’s residents don’t experience online censorship by their government.

Tonga ✔

The Tongan government has passed laws that enable it to censor the internet by blocking websites. Nonetheless, the use of VPNs here is legal.

Trinidad and Tobago ✔

VPN usage in Trinidad and Tobago is legal and the country’s residents can use the internet without restriction.

Tunisia ✔

While Tunisia has taken drastic steps to reverse online censorship and promote Internet access, the legal framework of the country poses a significant threat to Internet freedom. Nonetheless, using VPNs is legal here.

Turkey ❌ ✔

The Turkish government heavily censors the internet, blocking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. As such, VPNs are very popular among citizens. While using a VPN in Turkey isn’t actually illegal, the government has cracked down, blocking sites like Tor and some VPN providers.

Turkmenistan ❌ ✔

The Turkmenistan government actively censors the internet and this has been cited as one of the most heavily censored countries in the world. It has just one ISP and it’s government-owned. It’s not crystal clear whether VPNs are legal here as there has been no explicit ban on their usage. However, there have been reports of blocked access.

Tuvalu ✔

The use of VPNs in Tuvalu is legal and the country’s citizens can enjoy unrestricted access to the internet.

Uganda ✔

The government of Uganda actively censors its citizens’ use of the Internet and even blocks social media sites during elections. However, the use of VPNs is legal here.

Ukraine ✔

VPNs are legal to use in Ukraine. Although, the country does appear to be moving into a period of internet censorship as exemplified by a recent ban on popular Russian websites.

United Arab Emirates ❌ ✔

The UAE is one of the few countries where there are laws explicitly related to VPN usage. However, VPNs may be freely used by companies and institutions and are only illegal if used to commit a crime. A new law introduced in 2016 means that when “internet protocols are manipulated to commit crime or fraud” VPN users could be jailed and fined more than half a million dollars.

United Kingdom ✔

You might expect the UK to be free of online restrictions. However, the Investigatory Powers Act means that all online activity might be monitored. UK-based VPN companies may be subject to the same data retention laws as the country’s internet service providers. The UK has also made news in the past as some carriers have blocked certain VPNs. However, the use of VPNs remains legal.

United States of America ✔

VPNs are legal in the USA, although the country does have a history of online controversy. While the government doesn’t actively censor internet usage, there have been many leaked reports regarding online surveillance regarding the NSA, FBI, et al. More recently, the broadband privacy repeal means that monitoring by ISPs is now allowed, and will become increasingly widespread. Of course, in such a large country, online privacy differs depending on the state, with California’s laws being the most protective of its residents.

Uruguay ✔

The citizens of Uruguay enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and can legally use VPNs.

Uzbekistan ✔

While the use of VPNs is legal in Uzbekistan, there is plenty of restriction with respect to online activity. Sites including WhatsApp and Skype are blocked and there have been past reports of censorship of news sites like IWPR.

Vanuatu ✔

Internet adoption in Vanuatu remains fairly low, but the small proportion of citizens who use the internet can do so without restriction. They can also legally use VPNs.

Vatican City ✔

The Holy See government does not restrict internet access and the use of VPNs is legal.

Venezuela ✔

Venezuela is infamous for having blocked a large number of social media and chat sites, such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Even very recently, the government has reportedly threatened a ‘clampdown on social media networks.’ Even so, VPNs are still legal in the country.

Vietnam ✔

While VPN usage is legal, the residents of Vietnam are subject to censorship of online activity. This is exemplified by the firm ‘Not free’ status assigned to the country by Freedom House. Vietnam is home of the controversial Decree 72, part of which aims to prevent social media sites being used to share news.

Yemen ✔

There have been attempts by the Houthi Militia to enforce a complete ban on Internet usage, though the use of the VPNs is yet to be made illegal.

Zambia ✔

The citizens of Zambia can also legally use VPNs, but online censorship has been an issue in the country. The government bans sites with ‘immoral’ content, but may have also blocked sites with political motivations.

Zimbabwe ✔

Just last year, Zimbabwe banned chat platform WhatsApp during protests, and has been known to actively censor the internet. However, the use of VPNs here is legal.

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