What does 'geo-blocking' involve?

Geo-blocking involves restricting access to online content based on the user's geographic location. This practice is often employed by content providers to comply with regional licensing agreements, copyright laws, or to adapt to local regulations. By determining a user's location through their IP address, a service can control which users are allowed to access specific content.

For example, a streaming service may allow access to particular movies or shows only in certain countries while blocking others, thereby enabling the content providers to manage distribution according to regional agreements. This practice has sparked discussions around digital rights and the fairness of access to online content on a global scale.