Do VPNs Still Work in China Despite Bans ?
1
0
You probably already know that connecting to a VPN service in China is almost impossible. The recently imposed ban on VPN services in China has left very few functioning VPNs worth turning to.
Millions of people in China have difficulty accessing popular websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But what does this ban mean for the common man? Is there still a way to connect to a VPN despite the ban? Do you buy VPN subscriptions or forget them completely? These are some of the questions that we will be answering here today. So, let’s get started:
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network that allows you to encrypt your internet connection so that you may access the web while keeping yourself private. In addition, a VPN also lets you access geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world. Provided that you buy VPN subscriptions in countries where VPNs are allowed.
Since a VPN makes it possible for people to access content blocked by the local rules and regulations, some governments have forbidden the use of VPNs entirely. On the other hand, numerous countries in the world still allow you to buy VPN subscriptions legally.
Do VPNs still work in China?
China has imposed heavy restrictions on internet usage in the country. Thus, making it quite challenging to access numerous popular internet platforms. These restrictions are commonly known as The Great Firewall of China.
China has recently banned several VPN services in the country. And the public is left with very few VPNs that they can connect to. But these kinds of bans have become a common practice. China has always wanted to prevent popular foreign websites from gathering information from within the country.
However, some VPNs still work in China, even if they may not be as fast as one would hope. Usually, when there is a public holiday or a critical government meeting being held, you will have difficulty connecting to a VPN. It won’t matter whether you buy VPN or download their free variant.
Why doesn’t China make VPNs illegal?
Even though it is almost impossible to connect to a VPN in China, using a VPN is still legal. Otherwise, people being arrested for using a VPN would have been quite common. The actual reason why VPNs are still legal in China is that VPNs are an essential part of conducting business.
Foreign companies operating in China need to buy VPN plans to transmit data to and from China without compromising it. If VPNs are suddenly made illegal in the country, numerous foreign companies in China will face difficulty surviving.
How are some VPNs still working in China?
There are still some VPN services that happen to be functioning quite well in China. The reason for their survival is simple. VPNs are allowed for organizations; however, they need to comply with the Chinese Cybersecurity Law.
And any company wanting to create or use a VPN service must notify the authorities well in advance. Failure to do so will result in severe problems for the organizations. Moreover, individual usage of VPN services is not legal or illegal. This situation is still pretty grey.
Furthermore, some VPNs do not have any servers in China. This means that they do not need to comply with the Chinese cybersecurity law. As a result, when you buy VPN plans from these VPN providers, you will likely get a successful VPN connection.
Do I Buy VPN Subscription in China or Not?
While you may not be legally punished for using a VPN in China yet, we would advise you to use extreme caution while using a VPN in China. And even if you do decide to buy VPN subscriptions in China, bear in mind that you will face significant obstacles if and when you gain a VPN connection.
The Final Verdict
It is still not a ‘black or white’ matter when it comes to using VPN services in China. However, VPN connectivity will be an issue when you are in China. And one cannot guarantee that you will establish a VPN connection successfully, especially when there is a major national event.
FAQs
- Do VPNs still work in China?
Even though numerous popular VPN services are blocked in China, there are still a few VPN services that can help you go online privately.
- Are VPNs illegal in China?
Only authorized VPNs may be utilized within organizations in China.
The majority of the free VPNs do not work in China. If you want any chance of getting a successful VPN connection, you will need to buy VPN subscriptions.
