I've been pirating stuff since I had to do it with a 300baud modem. I've never used a VPN or once tried to hide the fact that I was stealing. Because I've often used public trackers, I've received probably 20-30 letters and emails from various ISPs that they've caught me being naughty and that I should stop. I haven't stopped. Nobody cares. Anyone that tells you that you need to use a VPN is trying to sell you a VPN.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That depends on where you live.

[–] VelvetGentleman 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It really doesn't. If you have some data on arrests that isn't available elsewhere, please let me know.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Japan is pretty notorious for it: https://torrentfreak.com/japan-police-arrest-44-in-nationwide-internet-piracy-crackdown-160224/

https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/3/4059720/japanese-authorities-arrest-27-in-nationwide-file-sharing-crackdown

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it

At no point are the owners deprived of their products/software when downloading things. It's not stealing.