The use of VPNs as an anonymous file-sharing tool has risen dramatically.
The Pirate Bay took a nasty broadside at the end of April when U.K. courts ordered the country’s major ISPs to begin blocking access to the site. The ruling was doubtlessly frustrating for some but it’s effectiveness as an anti-piracy measure is debatable, as a large number of people who share movies, music and games online have already moved on to better and more anonymous systems.
A study by the Lund University in Sweden found that the number of people aged 15 to 25 who use virtual private networks to share files has risen by 40 percent since 2009, a surge that some people attribute to the success of efforts against sites like The Pirate Bay. VPNs are very effective for anonymous file sharing because they allow users to do so without being detected.
“VPNs could become the next front in the battle against piracy,” analyst Mark Mulligan told the BBC.
The crackdown on The Pirate Bay is having an impact, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which cited figures showing an 84 percent reduction in TPB usage in Belgium between August and November 2011, and a 74 percent decline in Italy. BTjunkie, which was also blocked in Italy, suffered an 80 percent drop.
“The aim of such blocking is not to turn off the tap but to make it as inconvenient as possible to get to such services,” Mulligan said. “VPNs add an extra layer of complexity and young people have to pay £5 or £6 [$8 to $10] a month to use them, which means some of the reasons for doing it are lost.”
As for The Pirate Bay itself, it’s not giving up quietly. The site posted a message yesterday comparing Western nations to the censorious regimes in Iran, China and Saudi Arabia, and of course offered up some advice to U.K. users about getting around the block.
“Don’t forget that we can’t allow this shit to happen. Next time they’re coming for something else. And yes, there will be a next time if we don’t stop them,” the message says. “Write to your ISP and tell them to appeal the case. Write to your local MPs and tell them that this is not allowed. Make sure your voice is heard.”
