omninegro and irryie, question about helping users on the forums with geo blocking

pia has stated that they can no longer give assistance to users attempting to access geo blocked stuff. ok. point taken. However, are users on pia's own forums still allowed to give that assistance over the forums?

Comments

  • I am an individual. And I am largely anonymous. The amount of trouble someone would have to go through for a slim chance to sue me for helping a user who as far as I know has every right to view geo-locked content but cannot due to technical reasons is massive. And the amount to sue PIA for helping the same person is almost nothing at all. So PIA simply cannot help in this way. I and others can.

    Most people reading this will understand what I mean instantly and have no trouble understanding. But in my experience you are not able to understand such things as most people do. So please paraphrase what I said to demonstrate you understand it. I will spend some time trying to explain what you have right and what you are still misunderstanding.
  • OmniNegro said:
    I am an individual. And I am largely anonymous. The amount of trouble someone would have to go through for a slim chance to sue me for helping a user who as far as I know has every right to view geo-locked content but cannot due to technical reasons is massive. And the amount to sue PIA for helping the same person is almost nothing at all. So PIA simply cannot help in this way. I and others can.

    Most people reading this will understand what I mean instantly and have no trouble understanding. But in my experience you are not able to understand such things as most people do. So please paraphrase what I said to demonstrate you understand it. I will spend some time trying to explain what you have right and what you are still misunderstanding.
    I agree that a user as far as I know has every right to view geo blocked material. I understand what you said there. But, pia is citing that it is against "laws" so I am confused in this aspect,, is a vpn user breaking the law when they are using the vpn to view something that is geo blocked?
  • OmniNegro said:
    I am an individual. And I am largely anonymous. The amount of trouble someone would have to go through for a slim chance to sue me for helping a user who as far as I know has every right to view geo-locked content but cannot due to technical reasons is massive. And the amount to sue PIA for helping the same person is almost nothing at all. So PIA simply cannot help in this way. I and others can.

    Most people reading this will understand what I mean instantly and have no trouble understanding. But in my experience you are not able to understand such things as most people do. So please paraphrase what I said to demonstrate you understand it. I will spend some time trying to explain what you have right and what you are still misunderstanding.
    I agree that a user as far as I know has every right to view geo blocked material. I understand what you said there. But, pia is citing that it is against "laws" so I am confused in this aspect,, is a vpn user breaking the law when they are using the vpn to view something that is geo blocked?
    Laws in America are not the only laws in the world. If America told every other nation they are not going to hold their citizens responsible for intentionally violating the laws of other nations, then America would be cut off from the content of every other nation and would suffer a depression unlike any in history. (In other words, not just Internet traffic would be blocked, but trade and exchanges of all sorts would be blocked.)

    So America has to at least try to force American citizens and companies to obey international law. DMCA notices are a part of this mess. We started this shit ourselves in America. And the whole world has mostly agreed to it. Places in China do not restrict piracy of American products, and as such we do not do business with those places. Likewise for India and many other nations.

    The same could easily be turned back on us if we choose not to enforce the international laws as if they were our own laws.

    And for the record, I did not say that "a user as far as I know has every right to view geo blocked material". I instead gave an example situation that could be the case of that, or could be entirely different. I know there is no difference to your way of looking at it, but there is a vast Universe of difference in what was actually said.
  • I remember reading somewhere, last year that India passed a law that banned porno websites or passed a law that blocked citizens from being able to view porn. Im sure if this was the case the India citizens would use a vpn to get around this. Could the Indian government come to a U.S federal court and sue PIA if an Indian citizen was using PIA to view banned porn?
  • I remember reading somewhere, last year that India passed a law that banned porno websites or passed a law that blocked citizens from being able to view porn. Im sure if this was the case the India citizens would use a vpn to get around this. Could the Indian government come to a U.S federal court and sue PIA if an Indian citizen was using PIA to view banned porn?
    No. They can only sue the individual. And NO. I am not going to entertain this line of questioning.

    First of all, you said the words "Could the Indian government come to a U.S federal court and sue..." No. India is not the US Federal Government.

    All they could do if America refused to follow whatever stupid demands they have is refuse to trade with America. Trade sanctions are remarkably common in this modern world.

  • Omni you wont go into Robert's line of questioning? At least he was asking and not using confirmation bias
    You are the same person. Anyone can see this. And my answer remains unchanged.
  • lrryie said:

    I agree that a user as far as I know has every right to view geo blocked material. I understand what you said there. But, pia is citing that it is against "laws" so I am confused in this aspect,, is a vpn user breaking the law when they are using the vpn to view something that is geo blocked?
    No, you don't have "every" right to view geo-locked content unless the rights holder grants you that right (permission).

    PIA is not citing that viewing geo-locked content is against the law. PIA is saying its against the law for them to directly assist you with viewing geo-locked content - Its against the law for every VPN service in the world no matter how they spin it.

    Doing such is your own decision and PIA is not stopping you from making and executing that decision > https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/forum/discussion/comment/38357/#Comment_38357.

    It is a violation of law for an individual to circumvent geo-blocking to view content they are not legally entitled to view via the rights holder granting them the right (permission) to access geo-locked content (e.g. movies, TV shows, music, software, etc...
    True, it is a law violation. That must mean a lot of people are breaking the law.
  • I have viewed geo blocked content a few times on youtube - music videos I wanted to watch. I make no attempt to be anonymous. This is my real name and I no longer use VPNs just because my current usage behaviour doesn't need them. That may change in the future. It may not.

    If someone wants to sue me they are welcome to. I have no money so qualify for free legal representation whereas the suing party wouldn't.

    I do not seek to break any laws but there are so many laws that it's hard to keep up with them. I think intent is important but often impossible to prove.

    Ironically there is soon to be a new law in the UK that anyone posting abusive content, under a false name, anywhere in the world is committing a criminal offense. Obviously only applies to UK citizens but they can't do it abroad and get away with it. So I am glad that I use my real name since anyone can accuse anyone of being abusive.

    I accept that there are legitimate reasons why people may wish to protect their identity. I have no problem with that as long as they keep within the law and don't harm or intend to harm anyone.
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