Piracy laws: Viewers bypassing site-blocking laws by disguising location

TECH geeks are bypassing the federal government’s piracy site-blocking laws by disguising their location so it looks like they’re accessing the internet from other countries like America.

Suits stars Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle. Suits is one of the popular TV shows streamed illegally. Picture: Nigel Parry/USA Network

TECH geeks are bypassing the federal government’s piracy site-blocking laws by disguising their location so it looks like they’re accessing the internet from other countries, such as America and Switzerland.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) companies have reported a surge of sales since the federal government rolled out legislation that allowed copyright-holders to seek court orders to block access to sites being used for illegal downloads.

In December, Foxtel and Village Roadshow successfully won a federal court order to block 61 sites. Village Roadshow is heading to court again next month in a bid to block another 71 sites.

But tech experts and academics have labelled the move as playing “whack a mole” with piracy since the blocks can be bypassed in just seconds via VPNs, which make it appear like users are accessing the sites from other countries.

Queensland University of Technology Professor Nicolas Suzor said he doubted the site blocking would make any significant dent on piracy.

“It’s more of a symbolic victory,” Mr Suzor said.

“They can be easily bypassed by VPNs or new proxy sites which create new websites addresses ... site blocking is basically like ‘whack-a-mole’.”

Viewers, especially illegal downloaders, are anticipating the return of Game of Thrones.

Melbourne man Phil, who asked for his last name not to be published, runs Vanish VPN. He said he has experienced a 10 per cent boost in sales since the site-blocking ruling.

However, Screen Producers Australia chief executive Matthew Deaner slammed people using VPNs for hurting creative industries: “By getting around geo-blocks that enforce ­licence conditions, you’re undermining international financing and licensing of film and television content.”

“This, together with increasing levels of piracy, means producers struggle to get a return on their hard work. It’s death by a thousand cuts.”

Creative Content Australia executive director Lori Flekser also warned that research showed nearly 40 per cent of VPNs had malware.

In 2016, Game Of Thrones, Suits and The Walking Dead topped the list of the shows most often illegally downloaded by Australians.