Stream movies and series with VPN and why you should (not) do it
Using a VPN with streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ has its advantages. You can use your subscriptions from abroad or you get access to content that you would otherwise not be able to view in the Netherlands or Belgium. But is that allowed? And are there situations in which streaming with VPN is not recommended?
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How does VPN work?
A VPN is a virtual private network. All your internet activities go through the server of your VPN services, which works as a kind of tunnel for your data. Streaming services get anonymous information about VPN users.
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In some cases, services are also presented with location data from another country. For example, if a user chooses to connect to a French VPN server, a streaming service will appear to be a French user. Earlier you could read everything about how VPN services work and we also discuss our four favorite VPN apps in that article.
Good reasons to stream with VPN
So you already notice: subscribing to a VPN service definitely has advantages for those who like streaming. A VPN is primarily useful for those who want to use their subscriptions on vacation. Within EU countries you can continue to use paid subscriptions to Prime Video or HBO Max, but if you visit a country outside the EU, EU legislation does not apply. In that case you can connect to a Dutch or Belgian VPN server to continue streaming as you do at home.
Furthermore, a VPN also comes in handy in countries where the local government does not respect the privacy of internet users. Unfortunately, this is still common in many non-Western countries. Thanks to a VPN, you can surf and stream anonymously in such countries.
Avoid geo-blocking
It is thanks to these advantages that many streaming services tolerate the use of VPN services. On Netflix you will even find the necessary information that tells you how to use a VPN. However, you can also read there that there are certain restrictions associated with the use of VPN.
Some internet users opt for a VPN just to watch content on streaming services that is normally not accessible from the Netherlands or Belgium. ‘Geo-blocking’, as it is called. Netflix even tries to block the use of VPN for such purposes, so that you still only see the content that you are entitled to as a Dutch or Belgian person. Each streaming service has its own policies for this, but in general you can say that it is usually prohibited or at least belongs to the gray zone.
In principle, a streaming service can suspend your account if you violate the platform’s policies, but in practice there are no known cases where they take such far-reaching measures when a user uses a VPN to bypass geo-blocking. And streaming services also turn a blind eye to other violations. In the world of streaming, the competition is fierce, we should not forget that.
Cheaper subscriptions
Some users of VPN services use the tool to take out a subscription directly via websites from abroad and then use it in the Netherlands or Belgium. In many countries outside the Benelux you pay less each month for the same subscription to a streaming service. Services such as Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video are lowering their prices in certain countries because the average wages of citizens are lower. The difference between subscription prices in different countries can therefore sometimes be very large.
Still, there are many reasons why we would advise against using a VPN and then taking out a cheaper subscription on a foreign website. First of all, there is an important moral argument, because for every user who pays less each month than they should, the rest will pay a higher price in the long term.
In addition, both the streaming services and your bank may have questions about those monthly payments afterwards. Especially if they also happen with another currency. So it is avoidable. This can be considered illegal through interpretations of Dutch criminal law.
Illegal content
And then we come to one last unavoidable topic when it comes to streaming with VPN services. Some users misuse VPN to stream illegal content. This concerns copied media from torrent sites such as The Pirate Bay – the most famous site – that people download and play at the same time. For example, if they want to watch the series ‘Wednesday’ on Netflix, they can download it illegally and stream it before the entire file is on their PC or phone.
That is of course illegal and that is precisely why people use a VPN to hide their identity. With internet piracy and therefore copyright infringement, you risk fines and even prison sentences, the BREIN Foundation, a copyright watchdog, knows that.
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The penalties can be high, because anyone who downloads a torrent not only downloads illegal content, but also illegally distributes it at the same time. That’s because of the way a torrent works. In addition to downloading, you also automatically turn on seedingor uploading copied content yourself.
Are there any more good and bad reasons why users subscribe to a VPN service? Which VPN do you find the most useful? Let us know in the comments.
