VPN Users Are Likely Content Pirates, BBC Says

SYDNEY — Heavy users of VPNs are so suspicious that ISPs should consider them as content pirates, according to a new study made for the Australian government by BBC Worldwide.

BBC made the report about available to help the Australian government decide how the nation should deal with the illegal downloading of content via decentralized peer-to-peer technologies and VPNs.

BBC said that it is "reasonable for ISPs to be placed under an obligation to identify user behavior that is ‘suspicious’ and indicative of a user engaging in conduct that infringes  copyright."

"Such behavior may include the illegitimate use by internet users of IP obfuscation tools in combination with high download volumes," the BBC said.

Once at the forefront of Internet profit-making, the adult entertainment industry has become vulnerable to losses from piracy.

Content thievery is prevalent on the Internet. In fact, many adult entertainment studios’ entire catalogs are available online illegally.

Dominic Ford of anti-piracy organization PornGuardian.com said that finding and tracking down content pirates is tough in light of all the technology, including VPNs, available to them.

"While VPNs have a legitimate use for securely accessing corporate networks in a secure manor, VPNs are used by common pirates to help evade being caught," Ford told XBIZ. "Proxy servers are similar, in that they help mask the actual user."

"The Internet is seemingly rife with tools to aid pirates, with little to no infrastructure-wide tools for helping find and stop them."

The BBC report, one of many the government had sought on how to deal with online piracy, is the result of a request for stakeholders to weigh in on a pending amendment to the nation's Copyright Act.

Besides pointing at VPNs as a source to crack down on, the BBC asked for more consumer education made available and wants ISPs to act as enforcers under some circumstances.

It also calls for Australia to block known sources of pirated material hosted offshore and for the all of the nation's ISPs to adopt the same copyright protection code.

BBC also said there should be a formal appeal mechanism for suspected pirates.

“It is important that consumers have a right of review or appeal in the event their rights are affected under any new scheme," the report said. "Consumers should have an available mechanism to challenge what are perceived to be unfair, or incorrect, ‘warnings’ issued by an ISP if a consumer is identified as having infringed copyright.”

View report

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Missouri AG Announces Age Verification Rule to Take Effect Nov. 30

Newly appointed Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced Friday that the state's recently approved age verification regulation for adult websites will go into effect on Nov. 30.

Aylo, Woodhull Freedom Foundation to Host 'Online Censorship' Event

Aylo and Woodhull Freedom Foundation will co-host a virtual panel addressing online censorship on Sept. 30.

Severe Sex Films Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Severe Sex Films has relaunched its official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Judge Awards Plaintiffs Over $400K in Attorneys Fees in Derek Hay Civil Case

California Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer has awarded former clients of LA Direct Models over $400,000 in attorneys fees and court costs, to be paid by agency founder Derek Hay.

ChickPass Rebrands as 'ChickPass Cinematic Universe'

ChickPass has announced that it has rebranded its network of sites as ChickPass Cinematic Universe.

Brazilian Adult Industry Association ABIPEA Launches

Brazilian Association of the Adult Entertainment Industry and Professionals (ABIPEA) has officially launched its organization.

New Adult Social Media Platform 'Havven' Opens Beta Phase

Havven, a new adult social media platform, has opened its beta phase and will officially launch Oct. 5.

Former Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer Sentenced to 3 Years Probation, $40,000 Fine

Former Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer was sentenced in federal court today to three years' probation and a $40,000 restitution fine for a conspiracy conviction related to money laundering through the defunct website.

Pineapple Support to Launch 'Wellbeing by PS' Initiative

Pineapple Support has announced its Wellbeing by PS initiative, naming new team member Amber Madden to head the project.

Playboy Wins $81 Million Judgment in Chinese Licensing Arbitration

Playboy Inc. was awarded $81 million in damages on Monday by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, in a licensing dispute with former partner New Handong Investment (Guangdong) Co. Ltd.

Show More