YOU Torrent?

Torrenting is something many people do and take for granted. In case you aren’t aware, torrenting in most cases is a fast, and secure procedure that allows users download and share data; such as files, movies, games, etc for free. This process works best with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) since it’s a copyright infringement. However, in the United States, it’s a “grey area”, but the maximum punishment for this method of piracy is a fine of $250,000 and a jail sentence for up to 5 years. This is something to be scared about if it applies to you. It is also illegal in China, however, a VPN isn’t needed when torrenting on a local wifi router, which makes it easier to do.

The most popular torrenting sites in 2018 have been voted to be The Pirate Bay, RARBG and 1337X, and the most successful applications used to download data is uTorrent, qBittorrent and Deluge. Surprisingly, torrenting is found to be rather safe and it is rare for people to have many problems (despite slow downloading with bad wifi) if done properly, according to certain sources. It has been found that the main reason why people would have problems while torrenting is not because of a website carrying a virus once being selected, or a particular application, but by accidentally downloading viruses from unknown uploaders after choosing media to download. This could also be the case with an ad on a site that deceives the purpose of the desired application.

Since the Beacon is in need of “more variety” I have interviewed random people on the idea of torrenting. There were several different opinions on the subject. An anonymous user thinks that torrenting is “good stuff” since it makes things so much easier agreeing with this user is Mulayne L, who “love[s] torrenting” because it’s “very effective and can’t be blocked”. Another user, Soma H admitted that “[he doesn’t] know much about it, but in Japan [one would] be punished very heavily because of copyright infringement”. Junior Sophia L, thinks that “at times people have no other options, yet at the same time it is a shame because artists and producers don’t get any direct profit from the viewers” she concluded that “[she] thinks the film industry is still up and running; however, due to torrenting it isn’t as big as it used to be”.

I have lived in several countries and can say that the punishment for torrenting is different in every place I’ve lived. When living in Ecuador, Cambodia and Kuwait, torrenting and copyright infringement was easily overlooked and there wasn’t much effort in attempting to hide the fact that it was a reality in those places. However, in Canada, the punishment is very severe and one would be expected to pay a fine and spend time in prison.

It is clear that torrenting is a very sensitive issue in different places all over the world, where some consequences for this action are extremely severe, while others are calmer and there is less of a punishment.