VPN use soars in Argentina following anti-piracy blocks – here's what we know

• Argentinians are reportedly turning to VPN services
• Proton VPN and Windscribe have both recorded spikes in interest
• This coincides with the block of two major illegal streaming sites

People in Argentina are turning to VPN services as the government clamps down on illegal streaming.

Two popular brands, Proton VPN and Windscribe, both began recording a spike in interest from the country on Monday. The latest Google Trends data confirms the trend, showing a rise in searches for the term 'VPN' that peaked on Tuesday.

The move follows the government's decision to permanently block two popular pirated streaming platforms at the beginning of the month.

Why are Argentinians flocking to VPNs?

Local media reports that authorities recently blocked over 70 domains used to access the two illegal services. Google has also been forced to disable the associated apps on all Android devices connecting from Argentine IP addresses.

Virtual private networks (VPN) have quickly risen in popularity as people look to mask their real IP address and secure their data online.

Proton VPN first shared a Google Trends graph on X showing interest in its product rising dramatically in Argentina on Tuesday. The following day, Windscribe shared data showing a rise in signups from the country and suggested that authorities may be restricting "internet freedoms."

Alongside their paid-for services, both providers offer secure free VPN plans, making them popular solutions following sudden website blocks.

David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN, confirmed to TechRadar that its service is the most downloaded free app in countries such as Argentina right now. Yet, "because of our strict no-logs policy, we have no insight into what people are using our service for," he added.

Nonetheless, Peterson is worried as people also appear to be downloading the first VPN they can find. "Some of the most popular VPNs in Argentina and Latin America at the moment carry serious security and privacy concerns," he said, warning that this creates legal and personal risk for users.

Windscribe CEO, Yegor Sak, also told TechRadar that the team keeps seeing "elevated signups from Argentina."

Sak does believe, however, that rather than blocking the internet, authorities should take the time to fix an "outdated licensing model" contributing to the existence of piracy.

"If there are reasonably priced options available to watch any kind of content, in any region, the need to pirate would disappear for a lot of people," he said, arguing that "it’s time for bureaucracy to catch up with modern reality."

Could VPNs be targeted?

The blocking of the two platforms – Magis TV and Xuper TV – is part of an international investigation led by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice dubbed "Operation 404." Other efforts have included the seizure of hundreds of TV boxes, with those responsible for their distribution now facing up to six years in prison.

Attempting to access these platforms is not only legally risky but also a significant cybersecurity threat. Experts have found that apps linked to the platforms often originate from dubious external sources and can facilitate the spread of malware. Therefore, extreme caution is required.

While VPN services are not currently a target of Argentinian authorities, this could change. Last year, France's anti-piracy campaigns turned their attention to VPN providers and – following a landmark ruling in May – five major brands were ordered to block over 200 illegal streaming sites. It remains to be seen if authorities in Argentina will follow suit.

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