Geoblocking

What Does Geoblocking Mean?

Geoblocking is the process of limiting user access to the internet based on their physical location. It is typically implemented by telecommunications companies, websites and other content providers and intellectual proprietors, often for the sake of copyright restrictions. Databases that map out IP addresses’ physical locations are often used to manage and enforce geoblocks.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Geoblocking

Geoblocking often uses encryption in order to protect content that is intended only for specific regions. Throughout its history, the practice has faced a number of challenges. A notable example is the case of a German student who tried to purchase geoblocked content from UK-based Sky TV in the early 1990s, only to be denied by the company. The undergraduate then studied Sky TV’s proprietary encryption tool, and developed Season7, a piece of decryption software that ultimately allowed viewers all over Europe to access Sky TV’s content for free.

Today, although geoblocking remains in use by many major content providers (such as Netflix) the restrictions can be circumvented using a number of different methods (such as virtual private networks).

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Internet Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…