25 Things You’re Doing Online That Are Probably Illegal

October 12, 2015 illegal, internet, online, piracy, video

First of all, internet law is confusing. It constantly changes and we are not lawyers. By the time you get done reading you’ll see how it can even be different depending on where you are. Having said that, if you’re like most people, these are 25 things you’re doing online that are probably illegal.

25. Torrenting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timdobson/4980892157/ Although like many things on this list, torrenting itself isn’t illegal, most of the things torrented on the web make it that way.

24. Cyberbullying

http://www.flickr.com/photos/winning-information/2314383724/ According to Title 18, Section 875, Subsection C of the United States Penal Code, this really is illegal.

23. Unofficial TV Streaming Services

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TV_highquality.jpg Basically any show you’re watching online for free…

22. Accessing the deep web

http://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/10292377/ It’s the criminal underbelly of the internet and just accessing the wrong site can get you in loads of trouble.

21. Faking your name

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsyweber/2732896472/ This one sounds dumb but according to the vaguely worded Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, faking your name online is a no no.

20. Faking your IP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IP_spoofing_en.svg This one shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. You can do all kinds of dodgy things when you’re anonymous.

19. Connecting to unsecured, non-public Wi-Fi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Linksys_WAP54G.JPG No, it’s not because it’s unsafe, it’s because you’re stealing internet.

18. Selling on eBay without declaring earnings

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ebay-PayPal_San_Jose.jpg This is a quick way to have the IRS at your door.

17. Unlocking your phone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IPhone_4_box_no_lid.JPG Although jailbreaking is still technically legal, as of January personally unlocking your phone to use across carriers isn’t.

16. Ad blockers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:For_Sale_-_Classifieds.jpg Although it’s completely unenforceable, some countries still try.

15. GIFs and Memes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wackyvorlon/8762293927/ Yes, fair use has been argued, and we know that every site from Buzzfeed to Reddit uses them, and many images are public domain (like the one you’re looking at), but lawyers are lawyers and they need to make a living too.

14. Clicking “save image as”

List25 editor (screenshot) Ok, not in some cases, but for the most part that image is copyrighted content and you now have the power to distribute.

13. Working remotely on a travel visa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Egypt_Visa.jpg If you work from home for a US company and all of a sudden decide to go to the UK, it may be illegal to access your work email without a work visa.

12. Sharing passwords

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CryptoCard_two_factor.jpg It has to do with sharing access to paid services and software.

11. Parody accounts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/openrightsgroup/6296048730/ While not always illegal, there is a fine line and some twitter users have run up against it.

10. Under age Facebook accounts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anokacountylibrary/6813362129/ According to its terms and conditions you have to be at least 13 years old to register.

9. Registering trademarked domain names

http://publicphoto.org/signs-symbols/trademark-symbol/attachment/trademark-symbol_32/ At the very least it will probably land you in court if the company behind the trademark comes calling.

8. Bypassing paywalls

List25 editor (screenshot) It’s as easy as using a couple proxy servers to read the rest of that news article.

7. Uploading copyrighted content to Youtube

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurgenappelo/7749081576/ This would cover everything from clips of TV shows to those pictures we downloaded earlier.

6. Fun on work computers

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44702485@N04/4530409989/ It has something to do with using a work item for recreation. Just don’t laugh too loud…

5. Copying software

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fbi_anti_piracy_warning.jpg This one is probably more obvious than the rest but remember, it depends on the rights. Some software is allowed to be distributed.

4. Traversing the silk road

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Silk_route.jpg Remember the deep web. Here’s example #1. You can buy anything here, but just accessing it could land you in trouble…which is why you don’t have a screenshot to look at.

3. Uploading a video of you singing Happy Birthday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Birthday_candles.jpg Yea, we know we already talked about this one but did you know you’re not allowed to sing Happy Birthday in public? It’s copyrighted, which is why you never really see it in movies. All those childhood offenders…

2. Bad mouthing China

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:People%27s_Armed_Police_squad_1.JPG We only put this one on here to make the point that while something may be illegal in one country, it’s perfectly ok in the next. Just make sure not to get on anyone’s bad side and you should be fine.

1. Hiring a hitman

http://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imachen:US_Sniper_Slunj.JPG If you do get on somebody’s bad side though…just kidding. Hiring a hitman is probably illegal everywhere except Somalia…in which case basically nothing we just talked about applies.

GOORAMA!