Torrenting and Privacy in Australia: Is It Illegal
That makes it easier and safer to access and use torrenting websites.
Australian torrents
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Torrenting and Privacy in Australia: Is It Illegal?
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It’s better to be safe than sorry…
My advice is – just use NordVPN and enjoy peace of mind each time you use torrents in Australia.
Torrenting is not illegal in Australia, but it can be if you use it for sharing or downloading copyrighted content.
The Australian government banned the use of torrenting websites, so now ISPs are bound by law to block torrenting websites, and the only way you can access and use them is through a VPN
Have you ever wondered why torrenting is such a big deal for governments around the world, and why they are against it?
Well, you might be surprised to hear this, but torrenting, as a form of peer-to-peer sharing (P2P), is technically legal.
Still, when you use it for illicit purposes like downloading copyrighted material, you can definitely get in trouble.
Most countries have different regulations on the matter.
Australia is one of the few that completely shut down torrenting sites.
So what does this mean for you?
Here is everything you should know about torrenting and privacy in Australia.
Attention Torrenters!
Downloading Torrents without a VPN is very risky!
Whether you are downloading music, e-books, comics, TV shows, movies copyright trolls, and ISPs are in hot pursuit of torrent users. You should always use a VPN while torrenting, so your identity remains hidden and no one can read the contents of your internet traffic through encryption.
Is Torrenting Illegal in Australia?
To answer your question – no, torrenting is not illegal in Australia.
However, a few years back, the Australian government imposed a nation-wide ban on torrenting websites.
It was to prevent users from accessing and using pirated content.
So while it’s not illegal, torrenting and P2P sharing is not an easy thing to get your hands on.
Even when you are not technically breaking the law.
Australian Piracy Laws and Legislation
The laws and legislations are there to fight the ongoing piracy problem in the country.
In December 2018, the Australian government expanded the country’s Copyright Act of 1968 and introduced a new amendment that implied strict website-blocking measures.
Even before this, Australia was stern about torrenting in general.
Still, the expansion of the legislation was just another move in the war against piracy.
Nowadays, ISPs are bound by law to block all access to torrenting websites.
Those who do decide to break the rules, should keep in mind that the ISP can see all online activity, and store this data.
According to the Australian legislation on data retention, ISPs can store data on their users for at least two years.
It basically means that whatever you do online is not private, and your ISP can not only see this information but use it against you.
Also, with the Copyright Act, copyright holders can now apply for injunctions, and they have the power to block access to certain websites that illegally profit from their work.
When the injunction is granted, the ISP has to block that IP address.
Can You Get Fined for Torrenting in Australia?
Piracy constitutes a criminal offense, according to the Trade Marks Act 1995, the Copyright Act 1968, and the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994.
Obviously, if you make a criminal offense, you’ll get fined.
That is pretty much the case in countries all around the world.
However, the type and severity of the penalty vary depending on the country.
In Australia, it’s a pretty harsh penalty.
Citizens who commit a more trivial crime would often go off with a warning first from their ISP.
Still, considering the fines, I would suggest being extremely careful with this. Better safe than sorry.
How Much Is the Fine?
For copyright infringement or counterfeiting, the penalties can go up to $117 000 for individuals, and up to $585 000 for corporations.
Or you can be imprisoned for up to five years.
According to the Australian IP Government agency, the fines apply to people who knowingly import, possess, sell, and distribute copyrighted content.
They also appeal to those who sell infringing copies of computer programs or if they transmit a computer program to enable it to be copied when received.
What Torrenting Sites Work in Australia?
People will always find a way to get what they want, especially on the internet.
So, despite the circumstances, some torrenting sites work in Australia.
Take, for example, The Pirate Bay, which is probably the most notorious torrenting search engine online.
No matter how many times they take it down, it always finds a way back.
On the list of torrenting websites that you can use are also Torrentz2, LimeTorrents, 1337x, Yify, etc.
But there is a catch.
You can only open them with a reliable VPN.
Otherwise, it’s an endless struggle to get a torrenting website that still works, let alone to use it safely.
How to Torrent Safely & Anonymously in Australia?
I would recommend VPNs for torrenting no matter where you are, even in countries that don’t have such strict regulations on P2P sharing.
That way you get to keep your online privacy, well… private.
With a VPN, you’ll stay away from prying eyes, from your ISP, and your government.
Plus, you won’t have to deal with blocked content or geo-restrictions.
One VPN that works for me is NordVPN because it enables a list of servers made particularly for P2P sharing.
That makes it easier and safer to access and use torrenting websites.
Not to mention that NordVPN offers a bund of other features, excellent security, and privacy, and it’s completely reliable.
If you are hesitating, give it a try without risking your money.
NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-return policy, so if you are not satisfied, you can get your money back and try with another VPN.
How to Access Torrent Sites Blocked in Australia?
The Australian Senate has recently passed a new anti-piracy bill (Copyright Amendmend/Online Infringement) in an attempt to block torrent websites in Australia. This means that soon Australian ISPs (TPG, Optus, IINet, Primus, Exetel, Dodo, Telstra) will block access to ‘pirate’ sites like The Pirate Bay, Torrent Freak, Isohunt, Bittorrent, Popcorn Time, KissAss, Torrentz. With the presence of VPN, you don’t have to worry much about the new legislation. VPN allows you to unblock any website you want. It also protects your privacy while you’re online. Read the following guide to learn more about how to access any torrent sites blocked in Australia.
How to Access Torrent Sites Blocked in Australia?
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Disclaimer: Neither the owner of this site nor the editor of this article nor any of the linked VPN service providers condone downloading, sharing, seeding, or peering copyright material. International laws prohibit such activities which are illegal. This guide serves educational purposes only.
Best VPNs to Access Banned Torrent Sites in Australia
Once you install the VPN app on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android, connect to a VPN server where the blocked website you want to access is not blocked. (Anywhere other than UK, Australia, China). Make sure the VPN provider you sign up with does not keep logs or cap your traffic. Below is a list of the best VPN providers you can use to unblock torrent sites and streaming portals blocked in Australia.
VPN Provider
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
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- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
How to Access Blocked Torrent Sites in Australia using VPN
- First of all, sign up with a VPN service from the list above. Stay away from free VPNs like Hola as those can harm your online security and do not work properly in most cases.
- Now that you have created your VPN account, download and install the VPN app from the VPN provider’s website.
- Launch the app and connect to a VPN server from within the app.
- You have now successfully hidden your IP address. All your Internet traffic is securely encrypted.
- Finally, head over to Pirate Bay, KickAss Torrents, or any other banned site in Australia.
Not only can you access banned sites in Australia using VPN, but you also get to do so anonymously. That means as long as you are connected to a VPN server, your ISP will not be able to spy on what you are doing online.
List of Sites in Blocked in Australia by TPG & Telstra
TPG, Telstra and other Australian ISPs have banned access to the following sites.
- The Pirate Bay
- Torrentz
- H33t
- Isohunt
- Bittorrent
- KickAss Torrents
- Popcorn Time
- 123Movies
- Alluc
- Bitsnoop
- Couchtuner
- Demonoid
- Extra.to
- ExtraTorrent.cc
- EYNY
- EZTV
- FMovies
- GenVideos
- Hdmovieswatch
- Icefilms
- Kinogo
- KissCartoon
- Limetorrents
- MegaShare
- Movie4k
- Phimmoi
- Piratebay.to
- PrimeWire
- Putlocker.ch
- Putlocker.plus
Putlocker.run - Putlockers.vip
- Rarbg
- RIsbb
- Shush
- Softarchive
- Spacemov
- Tehparadox
- Torrent Downloads
- TorrentProject
- Viooz
- WatchFree
- WatchSeries
- Xemphimso
- Xmovies8.org
- XMovies8.tv
- Yify Torrent
- YTS
What is VPN?
There’s no doubt that VPN has become more popular in Australia. That’s mainly because of the huge amount of privacy it can grant you. There are many Australian that still don’t know what it is or how it works.
- VPN is short for Virtual Private Network. It allows its users to establish a secure and private connection between them and a server located anywhere around the world.
- When connected to a VPN server, all your Internet traffic gets encrypted. No more ISP or government agencies eavesdropping on you.
- VPN also enables you to surf the web anonymously. Giving you even more privacy online.
- VPN lets you change your IP address and obtain a new one from a country of your choice. US, UK, or Canadian geoblocked content such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, Sling TV, ESPN, WWE Network, BBC, Sky, Now TV, HBO Now all become accessible.
How to Unblock Sites Banned in Australia – Conclusion.
If you value your privacy and want more Internet freedom, then VPN is the only way forward. Just make sure you choose wisely before you sign up with a VPN provider.