Well, VPNs are legal to use in most of the countries, that includes the US, they can be associated with illegal online activity. We will explain what’s legal and illegal about using VPNs, plus your rights to use a VPN in different countries. In this article, we are going to talk about Are VPN Legal in Canada and What is Best for You. Let’s begin!
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) actually encrypt your connection to the internet and stop you from being tracked or hacked when you’re online. And there are plenty of perfectly legal reasons that you want to use a VPN.
VPNs are great to protect your online privacy. With a VPN enabled, you can disguise your IP address and avoid the government, your internet provider, or also third parties from monitoring what you are up to online actually.
However, there are many legal reasons you might want this degree of privacy. VPNs understandably appeal to those looking in order to hide less savory activities, also include illegal downloads and use of the darknet as well.
Contents
- 1 VPN use in Canada – Legal or not?
- 1.1 Pick a VPN for Canada | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.2 The Best VPN for you, you can use in Canada | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.3 ExpressVPN
- 1.4 NordVPN | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.5 CyberGhost | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.6 VPNs and Illegal Activities | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.7 Using a VPN, A grey area | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.8 What does Canada law say? | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.9 Do the advantages outweigh to costs? | are VPN legal in Canada
- 1.10 Conclusion
VPN use in Canada – Legal or not?
The short answer is simple actually: Yes, it’s currently legal to use a VPN in Canada.
In fact, many organizations, such as government agencies, law firms, accounting firms, and others utilize VPNs in order to protect sensitive data. But, in some countries, Canada included, many governmental laws can force VPNs to reveal their users’ data if requested. And, using a VPN goes against the user terms of service of many online streaming websites (Netflix, Hulu, etc.).
These services may also cancel your subscription if you attempt to use a VPN. But, this mostly does not happen – more often, these services will simply employ a VPN blocker that can sometimes avoid you from being able to stream video until you disconnect from your VPN actually.
Pick a VPN for Canada | are VPN legal in Canada
- Encryption – To bypass geo-blocks and also protect your data, you need a VPN along with strong encryption. All the VPNs on our list have best-of-the-best 256-bit AES encryption – plenty to keep your data private and secure as well.
- Jurisdiction – You guys need a VPN that’s located outside of Canada or any other country. Where they would be beholden to that government’s requests for your data logs as well. In other words, you guys need a VPN that’s based in a neutral government.
- Network size – To make sure that you have access to the best servers available each and every time you connect. You need a VPN that has a large, widespread network as well. Additionally, if you have a particular country in mind from which you’d like to view content, then it helps to have a VPN server located within that country.
- Logging policies – Going hand-in-hand with the last point, even if you select a VPN that can be forced to disclose your data. Then you can take another precaution: also make sure there is not any data recorded to be given away. All of the VPNs on this list have strong zero-logging policies so that there is not any data kept by the VPN that could identify you anyway actually.
- Speed – Finally, you guys need a VPN that has fast connection speeds. Since VPNs add at least one layer of encryption, they have a reputation to slow down your internet connection as well. However, the VPNs we chose are some of the fastest on the market, which gives you access to excellent streaming, downloading, and browsing speeds as well.
The Best VPN for you, you can use in Canada | are VPN legal in Canada
ExpressVPN
Pros
- Unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and also Amazon Prime
- Fastest servers we have tested
- Torrenting/P2P allowed
- Strict no-logs policy for personal information
- 24/7 Live Chat.
Cons
- Slightly pricier than the competition.
ExpressVPN basically maintains hundreds of servers in Canada spread across three locations actually. Our tests also revealed that this provider offers really good performance levels. Along with consistent speeds that were very close to what we’d normally see without a VPN.
ExpressVPN is not only one of the fastest VPNs on the market, however, also one of the easiest to use. So with this provider, you can get buffer-free streaming of your favourite content, fast download times, and also seamless browsing. However, you also get a 1-click interface that stays out of your way actually. You also get zero speeds caps, no throttling, and absolutely no restrictions on P2P networks or torrents, either as well. So pretty much anything that you want to do online, then you can do, along with ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN has up to 3,000 servers spread across 94 countries. So you’ll have no problem getting online with the best server for your use-case as well. And with so many countries included, you can also expand your catalog of internet content across much more of the globe than before. ExpressVPN can also get past VPN blockers, which makes them great for Netflix and all other streaming services.
NordVPN | are VPN legal in Canada
Pros
- Unblocks American Netflix
- Over 5,400 servers in 61 countries
- DNS leak protection, kill switch
- Strict zero-logs policy on both traffic and metadata
- 24/7 Chat Support.
Cons
- Not much
- Refund processing can take more than 30 days.
If security is your main concern, then NordVPN is actually a great pick for you. NordVPN’s ‘Double VPN’ feature sends users’ internet activity via two VPN servers.
On top of that, the service also offers features such as encrypted traffic over the Tor network, encrypted chat, dedicated IPs (at an additional cost) and also a ‘zero logs’ policy that’s been audited through PricewaterhouseCoopers. It’s all really impressive stuff from the most famous name in the game actually.
There’s much coverages along with 400+ local servers for Canada, and another 1,700 south of the border, with most of them being P2P-friendly actually. The client is simple and straightforward, and the performance is really good.
The monthly plan apart, NordVPN is an affordable VPN and another one that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The limited multi-year plan also offers fantastic savings if you guys are looking for something longer-term.
CyberGhost | are VPN legal in Canada
Pros
- Unblocks US Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu
- Torrenting allowed
- Robust encryption standards
- Private: Strong no logs policy
- 45-days money-back guarantee.
Cons
- WebRTC leak detected
- Can’t unblock some popular streaming sites.
If you are looking for a fast, reliable, easy-to-use VPN, then look no further – CyberGhost has you covered also. This provider is also easy to install and use, along with a colorful, minimalist display that also gives you 6 pre-configured profiles. Each one of these applies the best VPN settings for many use-cases, such as unblocking streaming, unblocking basic websites, and selecting your VPN server. You can also add on toggles that block venomous websites, ads, and online tracking, as well as also give you extra browsing security and speed.
CyberGhost has 5,900 servers in 90 countries, along with an immaculate logging policy that does not even keep your email address. That is much less any other information that could be used to identify you. 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak test, and also kill switch keeps you safe, and a wide array of software makes sures that you will be able to connect with any of your devices as well.
VPNs and Illegal Activities | are VPN legal in Canada
When using a VPN itself is rarely unlawful, many online activities remain illegal if you’re using a VPN or not. These may also include:
- Illegal file-sharing
This is also known as torrenting, this is where users simultaneously download and upload copyright-protected content (like music, movies, and games) between each other over the internet. - Hacking
Gaining unauthorized access to computers or networks that belongs to many other companies or individuals as well. Either to disrupt activity, carry out acts of fraud, or also steal the data, is illegal actually. - Buy, sell or download on the dark web
The dark web is an under-the-radar area of the internet, where a great deal of illegal activity happens, like buy or sell drugs, weapons, and all other illicit materials, or access illegal pornography as well. - Cyberstalking
It’s actually illegal to stalk someone online and cover your tracks via a VPN.
Using a VPN, A grey area | are VPN legal in Canada
It’s actually legal to use a VPN to secure your online transactions and related information. However, the legality of using one to facilitate other online activities is still a blurry line as well. A 2013 court case in the United States also found it a breach of the U.S as well. Computer Fraud Act to “knowingly circumvent one or more technological or physical measures that are basically designed to exclude or avoid unauthorized individuals to obtain [that] information.”
So, some folks argue that if a Canadian uses a VPN to watch U.S. TV, then they’re technically guilty of breaking these laws. But, an attorney for a major American organization – the Electronic Frontier Foundation – was quoted in Forbes. That says, “While there are differences among the courts about the use of masking IP addresses in order to gain access to a site. It is really well established that simply violating the Terms of Service alone is not sufficient in order to warrant a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.”
What does Canada law say? | are VPN legal in Canada
In Canada, there’s no equivalent of the U.S. case in order to set a precedent for violation. That says, but, there has a precedent case of a U.S.-based company (Voltage Pictures) requesting the Canadian-based Teksavvy to disclose the private information of its subscribers. Who Voltage Pictures claimed had also violated copyright regulations. In the end, Teksavvy had to hand over this information actually, however, any correspondence to Canadian subscribers in that list. It had to be approved by a Canadian court before it could begin as well.
What this means is that we can force Canadian-based VPNs to turn over any and all logs they have on users. However, thankfully, none of the VPNs on our list are based out of Canada or beholden to its laws – so that you have nothing to worry about it.
Addictive Tip is a strong advocate for your privacy, however, we never condone piracy or otherwise breaking the laws of your country as well. It basically depends on you to understand those laws and to act accordingly. Please use your VPN responsibly and safely as well.
Do the advantages outweigh to costs? | are VPN legal in Canada
Since Canada allows folks to use VPNs, how do all the advantages compare to potential costs? Simply put, the benefits of using these networks are far greater than any potential costs.
Yes, users who take advantage of VPNs will be much harder to track actually. This, however, does not mean that it is impossible to locate their IP address and also hold them accountable for any wrongdoing as well.
Well, on the other hand, the potential advantages of using VPNs are incomprehensible. In fact, every Chinese resident that has a Facebook profile is mostly able to do that through some type of network that masks their location and allows them to bypass government-based blocks as well.
So, VPNs also offer a perfect alternative for folks who reside in countries where the government leaders suppress online activity actually. Absent them, millions of folks in China, North Korea, and also Iran, per se, would be completely cut off from the modern world and any current events as well.
Conclusion
Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.
Have a Great Day!
Also See: Should I Use a VPN on my Phone or Not?
