Since VPNs are a thing why is content and internet access different or limited within countries that allow VPNs
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It’s not a technology question, it’s an economics question. Content providers want to maximize profits so they want to increase prices as much as the market can bear. That leads to geographical market segmentation. What countries allow is irrelevant. As long as the content providers can figure out the true location of the vast majority of viewers, segmentation works. They don’t need 100% reliability.
It’s not a technology question, it’s an economics question. Content providers want to maximize profits so they want to increase prices as much as the market can bear. That leads to geographical market segmentation. What countries allow is irrelevant. As long as the content providers can figure out the true location of the vast majority of viewers, segmentation works. They don’t need 100% reliability.
The vast majority of users have no idea how to use a VPN.
The overwhelming majority of lawmakers have no idea what a VPN is.
So there’s no pressure to restrict them, and the content restrictions accomplish 92% of the goal of the content owners.
The vast majority of users have no idea how to use a VPN.
The overwhelming majority of lawmakers have no idea what a VPN is.
So there’s no pressure to restrict them, and the content restrictions accomplish 92% of the goal of the content owners.
Because who has the rights to the content often varies between countries. A streaming service might have the US streaming rights to a show, but not the EU rights, so they have to block non-US IP addresses.
Because who has the rights to the content often varies between countries. A streaming service might have the US streaming rights to a show, but not the EU rights, so they have to block non-US IP addresses.
Nobody can practically forbid or allow VPNs since there is no real way to tell whether a connection is a VPN or not.
For example
My home (China) -> VPN (US) -> US Hulu
There is no way US Hulu would know VPN server is forwarding data to my house in China.
The only way US Hulu can find VPN addresses is to have their employees sign up for VPN services and connect to Hulu servers exposing the VPN IP and adding it to a ban list.
Nobody can practically forbid or allow VPNs since there is no real way to tell whether a connection is a VPN or not.
For example
My home (China) -> VPN (US) -> US Hulu
There is no way US Hulu would know VPN server is forwarding data to my house in China.
The only way US Hulu can find VPN addresses is to have their employees sign up for VPN services and connect to Hulu servers exposing the VPN IP and adding it to a ban list.
The answer boils down to two simple reasons:
1) Location-based localization is convenient and important. Income, type and level of education, and local laws and regulations are not the same everywhere, so it’s neither desirable nor practical for all internet users to have the same experience. If you travel while using Netflix, for example, you’ll find a lot more anime but without the option for English subs. Spotify premium, for example, only costs $3 a month in the Philippines vs $10 in the US. It doesn’t seem fair, until you consider that the US’s GDP per capita is thirty times higher.
2) Technical know-how and willingness: The vast majority of people don’t know how to use a VPN, and of the subset that are knowledgeable, many are not motivated enough to set one up unless they have a specific problem and no viable alternatives.
The answer boils down to two simple reasons:
1) Location-based localization is convenient and important. Income, type and level of education, and local laws and regulations are not the same everywhere, so it’s neither desirable nor practical for all internet users to have the same experience. If you travel while using Netflix, for example, you’ll find a lot more anime but without the option for English subs. Spotify premium, for example, only costs $3 a month in the Philippines vs $10 in the US. It doesn’t seem fair, until you consider that the US’s GDP per capita is thirty times higher.
2) Technical know-how and willingness: The vast majority of people don’t know how to use a VPN, and of the subset that are knowledgeable, many are not motivated enough to set one up unless they have a specific problem and no viable alternatives.
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