Best VPNs for Uruguay
Using a Estonian IP
Uruguay online privacy laws
Internet censorship in Uruguay
Uruguay is a small country located in between two giants, Brazil and Argentina. More than these borders and the beautiful South American beaches that they all share, the historical dispute over the Uruguayan territory between the ancient Portuguese and Spanish navigators has placed the country’s heritage closer to the Incas. Uruguay’s national symbol is the same as Argentina’s, for instance, the Sun of May, which is something that fits in well with country’s open mind and free state. This extends to the internet – an attitude that is confirmed by Freedom House – since the government respects the rights of its constitution which stands for the freedom of expression and the press.
The free and open-minded state of Estonia overcomes online barriers, too. Freedom House describes the country as “a model for free and open internet access” since there are very few restrictions on content. Laws were also established to protect users’ data and ensure that e-Estonia remains open and neutral, where citizens can use social media, VoIP services and VPNs without concern.
Intuitive multiplatform apps
Double VPN and P2P support
Plenty of security features
Large VPN network with consistent speeds
Intuitive multiplatform apps
Outstanding device support
Suitable for all VPN users
Seven simultaneous connections
Kill switch and traffic obfuscato
Browser extensions and Chrome blocker
Using a Estonian IP
Despite the fact that there are less than four million inhabitants in Uruguay, the state of the internet is one of the biggest success cases in the world. In less than ten years the broadband internet penetration rate doubled in the country to become the highest in the whole South American region. In 2017 more than 83% of households already had access to the web, many of them with fiber optic high speeds, and the government is aiming to reach 90% by late 2020. At the same time, there are no records of internet censorship or credible reports that online activity is monitored without judicial oversight, which makes VPNs, social media, VoIP and streaming services all legal and accessible.
Therefore, Uruguayan residents and tourists can access Facebook and Twitter without having content filtered, use the full version of Skype and WhatsApp, and legally subscribe to streaming services and VPN providers.
Uruguay online privacy laws
The law in Uruguay does not only abide by expectations of free and quality access to the internet but it also protects the online data of their citizens too, since any arbitrary interference with privacy and other affairs is strictly prohibited. The key word in this case is ‘consent’, since for a data processor to gather information from an individual it must first obtain their documented approval – unless such data is obtained from public sources or to comply with legal obligations. In that case, personal information is limited to address, telephone number, ID number, nationality, and the like.
This law is almost identical when it comes to sharing such information with third parties. In practical terms, if an ISP tries to sell other services to its clients, for instance, the customer’s information can only be shared if it complies with the interests of both parties. In turn, clients also need to have previously allowed for their information to be shared in this manner and need to have acknowledged the purpose of such sharing, as well as the identity of who the details will be transferred to.
Internet censorship in Uruguay
Fingers cannot be pointed at Uruguay when it comes to internet censorship since there are no restrictions for anyone. All the typical targets of banning are open for Uruguayan IP addresses and the right to information is not overlooked either; everyone is free to express their views and opinions online without the fear of persecution. The only ‘inaccessible’ areas of the web are those that are illegal – such as child pornography websites – but curiously the legality of torrenting is a grey area. To explain, despite the fact that there is public legislation against it, some websites that are offering downloadable content are still open and available. They are checked for copyright infringement, though, so it’s likely that ISP send strike notes to those who are caught using them.
Streaming and VPNs are both legal and very popular in the country, too. There are no restrictions to either of them, but it’s important to know that hiding an illicit activity with a legal VPN doesn’t make it acceptable so it is better to avoid such practices.
Streaming services in Uruguay
Uruguay is not any different than the rest of the world when it comes to streaming and the free state of the country has contributed tremendously to making such services more popular over time. Cable TV still has a very strong presence in Uruguayan households but many on-demand services have already crossed into the country’s borders and as a result many residents have switched one option for the other, benefiting from the country’s great overall internet speeds. Netflix was the pioneer in this regard and nowadays it already offers HD multiscreen subscriptions to Uruguayans, though the content library is far more limited than in America. Other rival services such as Amazon Prime Video or HBO GO are also available, each with their own exclusives as well.
Sport is also a big part of the Uruguayan culture and these days it is common to stream such sporting events, particularly soccer. Vera TV is a streaming service delivered by Antel – one of the country’s ISPs – that offers subscribers the chance to watch both national and international soccer, NBA matches, racing events, rugby and more.
Free Uruguay VPN trials
HideMyAss
Of all the South American countries, Uruguay is one of the hardest to find a VPN server for on different companies’ networks. However, HideMyAss offers thousands of locations in almost 200 countries, which makes it the go-to provider when looking for complete world coverage. There are a couple of servers in Uruguay and their decent speeds and unlimited bandwidth make them perfect for uninterrupted HD streaming across multiple screens. And since HMA provides a 30-day free trial it is perfect to test the whole service first.
ExpressVPN
Many VPNs advertise themselves as the fastest on earth, but very few can deliver the same fast and consistent speeds worthy of that title. ExpressVPN is one of the providers that can given the fact that fast worldwide speeds are precisely one of the biggest selling points of the company. On top of that there’s also unlimited bandwidth to make those streaming sessions all the better and the extraordinary device support is also worth mentioning. The VPN network counts over 2,000 servers in 94 countries and it’s even possible to connect to Estonia using all of the major protocols. There’s no free trial but everyone can use the program risk-free for an entire month thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost
VPN providers like CyberGhost are something to cheer for these days. The company has built its program to be suitable for all kinds of customers and that is best seen in the fantastic desktop client. It’s divided into different categories and that makes it very simple to use, but not at the expense of allowing the most demanding customers a decent level of customization. The server network reaches 60 countries – including Estonia – which makes it possible to combine the country’s great speeds with CyberGhost’s unlimited bandwidth and support for seven simultaneous connections to enjoy the best VPN experience. Once again, a 30-day money-back guarantee is the only way to use the program risk free.
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