What is Geo-Blocking?

Geo-blocking is the digital practice of restricting your online access to data and services based on your location. It is done by using your IP address to detect your geographical location and then modifying or restricting access accordingly. In this blog, we will develop a deeper understanding of geo-blocking, its uses, its workings, and the legalities it involves. 

What is Geo-Blocking?

Geo-blocking is the act of blocking or limiting someone’s access online based on their geographic location traced using their IP address. This is done as a measure to comply with copyright and licensing agreements or to appeal to the region-specific market. 

It’s widely used by streaming services, online retailers and even government institutions to regulate content delivery, enforce licensing agreements and ensure compliance with regional laws.

Websites exercise geo-blocking by using a restricted IP database to check if your IP is trusted enough for connection. If you are trying to connect from a location the business doesn’t want to serve, the web page will simply not send you the requested data.

How Does Geo Blocking Work?

Geo-blocking works by tracing your IP address. You can not access the content of a website without revealing your IP address. An IP address is provided by an ISP or Internet Service Provider, which may not operate globally. 

By tracking your IP address, websites can get to know your location. There are online databases that provide IP-to-location data. 

So if a website wants to geo-block you, all they need to do is compare your IP address to their database and if you are revealed to be in a blocked area, they can block your access to their content. 

Geo-blocking can also be conducted using other means, such as: 

• Using your DNS or Domain Name System provided by your ISP. 
• WebRTC is another technology used by websites to gather information about your device location. 
• Although rarely used, DPI or Deep Packet Inspection is also used for geo-blocking. 
• Payment Data Location reveals your location by tracing the geographical location from where the payment is being made. 
• GPS data is a very reliable way of getting an accurate location for your device since they will almost always reveal your location to a website when asked. 
• Router, Hops, Packet Latencies, and Jitter are used to see if your data is getting transferred to an authorised location; however, it is a much more technical process.

Examples of Geo Location Blocking?

Here are some examples of geo-blocking that is widely practised globally:

• Using Streaming Platforms: Your OTT platform content has to comply with licensing agreements that determine which location can view what content legally. The OTT companies or content providers are responsible for making these agreements. 
• Using Banking Services: Banks use IP addresses to determine whether access is being raised from an approved location. This is done to prevent hackers from exploiting their systems and preventing online fraud. 
• Visiting Countries With Restrictive Governments: Some countries have a ban on certain websites and services, thereby if you are a visitor in that country, you will not be allowed to access original content from these websites. You might have to use a VPN in such cases. 

Features of Geo Location Blocking

• Location and Traffic Analysis: Geo-location blocking uses your IP address to determine your location and analyse your IP traffic characteristics like routing, traffic data, router hops, etc. ,for more accuracy. 
• Authentication and Authorisation Modifications: In a zero-trust access environment, organisations can adjust authentication protocols based on the system’s location. 
• Targeted Access Control: Geo-blocking makes sure that IPs that are geo-restricted are based on the geographical attributes from the pre-defined criteria of the website. 
• Enhanced Control and Personalisation: Geo-blocking enhances control by limiting access based on geography, thereby reducing entry risks and customising content based on user preferences and needs. 

What Are the Uses of Geo-Blocking?

• Copyright Enforcement: Prevent unauthorised access to copyrighted content across various regions. 
• Financial Regulations: Some online banking companies make use of geo-blocking to prevent any movement of money from IP addresses detected in unauthorised geographical locations. This is done as a measure to combat financial fraud in compliance with local financial regulations and economic sanctions. 
• Regional Bans and Modifications: Some countries implement bans on certain media, websites and applications. In some cases, select content may be banned or have to be censored as per regional laws or cultural differences. 

Conclusion

Geo-blocking is a critical tool for balancing global connectivity with legal, business and security needs to curate content according to geographical location. However, it should be implemented with respect to user rights and maintain fairness in the digital space. 

We at InstaSafe understand how important it is for organisations to maintain security in case of remote access. And while a VPN can help you get around geo-blocking restrictions, they have known vulnerabilities that hackers have exploited in the past. 

Our Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Solution is a perfect VPN alternative that offers secure remote access like a VPN but addresses and mitigates any of the known issues associated with VPNs.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When is geo-blocking necessary?

Geo-blocking is essential for enforcing copyright laws, licensing agreements, and regional pricing models.

2. How do I get rid of geo-blocking?

You can get rid of geo-restrictions by using VPNs, proxies, and smart DNS services. However, these tend to violate established regulations and carry the risk of penalty if caught. 

3. Will I get in trouble for accessing geo-blocked content?

While it is not illegal to access geo-blocked content, it does, however, breach certain service agreements. 

4. What countries should you geo-block?

While there is no official list of countries that you should geo-block, businesses will often geo-block countries or regions that show a high rate of fraudulent activity.