The demand for VPNs has skyrocketed in many countries as authorities have imposed stricter internet regulations in the past few years. Indeed, people are adopting VPNs to keep their browsing activities encrypted. Similarly, internet users of various countries employ VPN services to unblock geo-restricted social networking apps or sites. 

Therefore, this article will take an overview of countries where the use of VPNs has surged in the past few years because of authoritative restrictions. Let’s delve into the top regions hereof:

1. China

China utilizes ‘The Great Firewall’ to censor internet usage. This system combines digital and legal frameworks. The government employs this system to track web activities and block foreign sites and social media applications like Facebook, Instagram, X, and Google.

That is why the demand for VPNs has grown in the country over the last two decades. Although Chinese authorities only allow a few local VPN providers, internet users use several international VPNs to unblock content across the globe. Similarly, overseas nationals settled in China also employ these services to hide their IP addresses and connect with their families. 

2. Turkey

Most of you would probably be surprised to see Turkey’s name among the top VPN service users, but it is a bitter reality. Although the country has a democratic government, people have been surfing because of online restrictions in Turkey for the past few years. Indeed, Turkey is at the forefront of social media censorship. Applications and sites like X, YouTube, Instagram, and Discord are completely banned in this country. 

However, this cyber ban is not limited to foreign applications and games. Authorities recently blocked a Reddit-like platform, Ekşi Sözlük, for no reason. As a result, more locals are using these Turkey VPNs to ensure encrypted browsing due to internet restrictions and ISP tracking. The need for VPN services grew by 491%, mainly due to Turkish authorities’ ban on X (Twitter).

3. Russia

Russia’s presence on this list is hardly surprising. Indeed, the country’s increasing online surveillance and scrutiny has also raised VPN usage within the country. Russians are very smart, and they don’t want to be tracked by authorities, so they prefer using VPNs to mask their IP addresses and keep their suffering untracked. 

The legal status of using VPNs in Russia is technically legal but could be problematic because some anti-censorship tools are banned here. Another reason for the surge in VPN use in Russia is the unavailability of search engines like Google and messaging apps like Telegram and Viber.

4. United States

Does it surprise you that the United States is on this list despite its strong internet freedom? If yes, it shouldn’t be that shocking. States like Alabama, Texas, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and Louisiana are the biggest users of digital privacy tools. However, the reason seems fair to Americans. 

Actually, these states impose a law regarding age verification when it comes to visiting X-rated websites. Thus, the underage group of people prefer using a VPN service in these states of America to access these explicit content sites. According to these sources, VPN adoption spiked by 210% in Louisiana, 234% in Alabama, 275% in Texas, and 482% in Montana. Another factor driving the surge in VPN demand was the country’s TikTok ban. Fortunately, the Trump administration has already lifted it. However, the government still has reservations about TikTok’s data collection policy.

5. Brazil

Brazil is another country where people use VPNs a lot. This began with the ban on Telegram across the country. Although this messaging platform was censored on the court’s order, its use was popular among Brazilians. That is why, after this action, the use of VPNs surged by 192% in Brazil.

Another incident that raised the VPN demand too high was the ban of X or Twitter. This happened under a court order, but Elon Musk rejected the decision. People considered it an act of freedom of speech. Therefore, most Brazilians employ Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access Twitter or X. 

6. Singapore

Singapore is another interesting pick on our list. Although the country is known for its technological advancements and solid laws. However, authorities passed a bill on October 5. This stringent new law was introduced to enable authorities to crack down on “subversive” material by requiring ISPs and social media companies to share user data, restrict content, and take down apps.

This bill was shocking for the Singapore business and technological community. That is why companies and firms in Singapore prefer VPN services to keep their and clients’ data untraceable. Resources say that VPN demand will be enhanced by 39% after this act in 2021. 

Conclusion

The use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) is increasing daily as more countries impose internet restrictions on users. These bans hinder communication, limit freedom of expression, and compromise user privacy. This article will help you understand the rising demand for VPNs in specific countries worldwide.