Is it Legal to Use UK VPNs when Watching UK TV?
What is a VPN and how does it work?
A VPN is an internet service that encrypts your computer or mobile device’s communication with the world wide web. A VPN scrambles your IP address and encrypts your data so that no one can see what you are doing online. It’s effectively a new layer of security for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
A VPN is software which changes your “address” to one that is private. This provides privacy and security for the user by encrypting their internet traffic and changing their IP address. They have been used by businesses to protect their remote workers for many years. Most multinationals will install VPN software on their employees laptops automatically and insist on their use wherever they are. It’s a standard, basic business tool used by millions so it’s odd to think there’s anything illegal about it.
The VPN is effectively an encrypted tunnel over the internet between your device (phone, computer, laptop etc) and the VPN server. All your internet traffic is relayed through this tunnel making it safe from interception. Also any site you visit only sees the addresses and location of the VPN server not your device so it hides your location too. This post will ponder a specific question are UK VPNs legal for watching TV with.
VPNs are banned in some countries.
VPNs are though banned in some countries although if you look at some of the countries on the list it’s probably obvious why.
- China (heavily restricted)
- North Korea (illegal)
- Iraq (illegal)
- Belarus (illegal)
- Russia (illegal)
There are quite a few others like Turkey which although have not made VPNs illegal have put restrictions on their use. Mostly though people tend to ignore these restrictions simply because a VPN gives more protection online than the risk of not using one. Only government-approved services are allowed in countries including Russia, China and Turkey. In most countries though and certainly all democratic ones then using a VPN is perfectly legal.
So the answer to the question is yes. VPNs are legal in the UK. The internet service providers cannot see what you’re doing on their network.
VPNs are Used to Hide Criminal activity
It’s obvious really, a VPN protects your privacy and identity online so it’s only natural people who are up to no good would use them. If you want to stay anonymous online then using a VPN is pretty much essential, without it you’re very easy to track down. Which is one of the reasons why this perception of VPNs being illegal presumably comes from.
Of course any reasonably technical criminal will use a VPN if they’re intending to commit any sort of crime online. However this doesn’t make the VPN illegal, just like using a pen or a car in a crime wouldn’t make them illegal too ! It’s important to remember just like a spreadsheet or word processor the VPN is just a tool. It’s not legal in most places across the world, but people to use them to perform illegal acts !
VPNs are used to bypass Geo-Restrictions.
The most popular use of VPNs in 2021 is not directly related to staying anonymous online (although it is linked). It’s being used as tool to bypass the thousands of blocks and filters which exist online. Mostly these are related to media sites which often broadcast to their domestic market free of charge but block access to anyone in other locations.
Some of the very best entertainment channels for the English speaking world are in the UK. All the major UK TV channels broadcast online including the world beating BBC iPlayer which is arguably the best.
The main free to air UK TV channels are as follows –
UK TV Channels which Broadcast Online (But Only to UK residents)
In the UK, there are many online TV channels which broadcast on the internet –
BBC iPlayer – the world beating BBC i player is available on demand from any device. It offers programmes ranging from TV shows to movies and documentaries.
ITV Hub – ITV Hub is the new and improved version of ITV Player. ITV Player was a TV channel which was free to watch, but you had to have a valid UK IP address or be within the UK to tune in.
4oD – Channels 4’s movie and TV show streaming platform. Available on the web
All these channels are packed full of box sets, movies, documentaries and all sorts of shows. Plus the BBC and ITV in particular have some of the best world current affairs programmes anywhere. So it’s hardly surprising that people who are outside the UK want to try and access them. They’re easily better than most satellite and cable packages that are available around the world (for English speakers). At the moment you can’t even watch the BBC from Ireland either.
How to Watch UK TV Channels Using a VPN
So all these TV stations are only accessible to people physically located in the UK. Which means that for example someone on holiday in Spain can’t watch the BBC iPlayer online. Of course we all know that millions of people outside the UK are watching all the UK TV programmes simply by using a VPN.
Here’s how it’s done using a program called NordVPN –
What are the legal consequences of using UK VPNs?
So just to summarise to this point – unless you live in a place like China, North Korean and a few others then using a VPN is perfectly legal. Indeed it’s probably one of the most used tools on the internet in 2021. It’s perfectly acceptable to use a VPN and to be honest probably advisable as it really does protect your internet connection and personal details when you’re online. Most experts in internet security recommend you use VPNs all the time to protect your personal information.
What you do with the VPN is the Important Point
If you use your VPN to hide your identity while you commit fraud or criminal damage then of course what you’re doing is illegal. It’s not the VPN it’s what you do with it, using the VPN just makes you harder to find. There has been a long and ongoing argument about privacy on the internet and whether it’s a good thing that people can remain anonymous online ? There are persuasive arguments on both side of the argument.
Using Your VPN to Watch British Television (So are UK VPNs Legal !)
So let’s clarify something here, if you use something like NordVPN to watch BBC iPlayer, ITV or another channel while outside the UK then there is no criminal act taking place. What you are breaking are the terms and conditions of the site. All of the UK TV channels say you cannot watch from outside the UK and hence they block access.
Is this a big deal ? Well unless you have some huge moral problems with being a bit sneaky like this then there are no real implications. Millions of people across the world are watching the BBC at this very moment. This includes thousands of ex-pats all over the planet, probably 95% of the ex-pat population have watched the BBC from somewhere they shouldn’t have. People on holiday use VPNs to keep watching, students learn English through watching the BBC abroad. People travelling on business to Holland, or trekking through Australian and everywhere in between.
You’re taking a much bigger risk by watching while physically in the UK without a TV license than you are watching abroad through a VPN. The worse that potentially could happen is that your free BBC account is removed. Although I should add I’ve never heard even this happening in the many years I’ve been looking at this subject. If it did, you could just create a new one !
You will be asked when accessing the BBC whether you have a TV license, and you have to answer yes or it won’t work. So if you’re not prepared to do this I wouldn’t bother, there are no checks that take place to see if you’ve got one. In an ideal world the BBC would allow people outside the UK to buy a license and watch legitimately but it doesn’t look like that will ever happen. If you really don’t feel comfortable then BritBox is your best option which covers a lot of older UK TV programmes and is available in some places outside the UK.