Are VPNs Legal? The Worldwide Guide (2024)

VPNs are banned or heavily restricted in a number of countries worldwide for various reasons. Some of the countries where usage is prohibited or restricted include:

Belarus

VPNs are illegal in Belarus. Since 2015, the Belarusian government has aimed to block technology that anonymizes internet usage, such as Tor. Furthermore, the government has blocked messaging apps including Telegram and Signal to suppress dissent and restrict free speech.

In 2018, the Belarusian government required internet service providers to retain data on users’ online activity for a year and provide it to law enforcement agencies upon request. The authorities have also been accused of using sophisticated surveillance techniques to monitor internet traffic, including deep packet inspection (DPI) to detect and block VPN traffic.

China

China has heavily restricted the use of VPNs—but they are legal. Any VPN used in the country must follow local regulations on censorship and backdoor access. They must also be licensed and aligned with government regulations.

If a service does not comply with local laws and rules, it may be blocked, which makes it difficult for Chinese citizens to access quality services. Some services such as NordVPN have an obfuscated server function, so the Chinese government has difficulty detecting that you’re using a VPN.

Still, the government acknowledges that VPNs are useful for business purposes. As a result, China has reached a middle ground between banning VPNs altogether and allowing government-approved services to exist.

Egypt

Egypt allows VPNs with restrictions. Similar to Oman, the government blocks content that violates its moral standards. For example, due to security concerns, voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) apps including FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype and Viber are not allowed.

The government has also monitored and censored online activity, making it difficult for individuals to access content that is deemed inappropriate.

Iraq

VPNs are illegal in Iraq. Interestingly, the country’s poor internet infrastructure makes its censorship capabilities subpar compared to China or North Korea. Online content is regulated and authorities have the power to block social media platforms during periods of unrest or school examinations.

North Korea

VPNs are not legal in North Korea. The North Korean government maintains strict control over all internet access and has implemented extensive censorship measures. Citizens are only allowed to access a tightly controlled national intranet known as Kwangmyong. All internet activity is monitored, and any attempt to bypass VPN restrictions is considered a crime.

North Korea’s internet censorship prevents citizens from accessing outside news sources. Allowing North Korean citizens to access blocked content threatens the government’s control. As a result, the North Korean government has implemented harsh penalties for those caught attempting to use VPNs or other circumvention tools.

Oman

Oman is known for its tight government control. ISPs must ban content not aligned with the country’s moral standards, such as p*rnography and drug use. In addition, businesses need explicit permission from the government to use VPNs.

While no specific law banning VPNs exists, the government is known to hack and eliminate content that it deems a threat to national security or public order. Individuals caught using VPNs to access restricted content may face severe penalties, such as fines worth $1,300.

Russia

VPNs are legal in Russia, but their use is somewhat restricted. All VPN services must operate within the “legal framework” approved by the government. According to the law, they must also block access to banned websites and online services. As a result, many VPN providers have withdrawn from the Russian market or have implemented measures to comply with the government’s requirements.

Despite these restrictions, many Russians still use VPNs to access restricted content and communicate securely. They are beneficial for accessing restricted news websites and social media platforms.

Turkey

The Turkish government has been increasingly aggressive in controlling online activity. Registered VPN providers are technically allowed to operate in Turkey. However, the government is known to block content it does not like. Streaming sites and file sharing have been banned due to intellectual property issues. The government also censors significant news platforms and social media sites, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Wikipedia.

Turkmenistan

Due to tight government control, using VPNs in Turkmenistan is illegal. The repressive nation has banned social media services including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber and famous Russian networks such as Odnoklassniki and VKontakte. The government monitors internet traffic and social media activity and occasionally arrests individuals for online content deemed critical of the government.

Authorities have also increased internet pricing to discourage social media use. Users who are caught may face severe consequences for violating the government’s internet censorship laws.

UAE

VPNs are legal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the government heavily regulates them. The government has strict internet censorship laws that aim to block offensive or harmful content such as p*rnography and political dissent. Based on the law, an individual who uses a “fraudulent computer network protocol” to commit a crime may receive a fine or temporary imprisonment.