prime video is giving me a vpn error msg
I was trying to watch a show on prime video. Today it gave me the error msg saying that I was using a VPN. So I ended up calling amazon, telling them the problem, they have referred me to roku to re...
Forum Discussion
Since VPN use is often tied to bypassing content provider restrictions, there's no legal reason for Roku to support their use. I understand the desire of some people for privacy, but for streaming providers it's a necessity.
Way to pass the buck Dan. Cut to the chase, VPNs are used for more than just by-passing Geo restricted channels and their copy righted programming, they are used for privacy. Perhaps this is why Amazon FireStick is North Americas top and best selling Streaming device. They allow for VPNs and also a search engine.
Neither of which are available on the Roku device.
I realize there are legitimate uses for a VPN. But because of the illegal use of them (which has caused legal problems for Roku in the past), Roku made the decision to not permit their use, nor discuss their use on their forum. I respect their decision on that.
I would love to know what legal issues you reference in the past the Roku has faced? If so, it can’t be from the programmers, as Google, Apple, Amazon Firestick, and TV manufactures would all have faced the same legal challenge. This again is why many are going away from Roku to the above mentioned devices. Roku won’t even allow a browser, and this is why they are last on the streaming list of devices being purchased. It’s a long fall to the bottom for Roku, but they are almost there.
They were banned from a country (can't remember exactly where, somewhere in Latin America) because they were blamed for allowing content on their devices illegally. And there were lawsuits that they had to pay significant fines. It's another reason why they removed private channels from their devices as well, because they were being used contrary to the terms of agreement that channel providers must follow.
I don't think there's any Roku "ban" on a browser. It's just that no one has bothered to attempt to build one, although I have seen one or two attempt one in the past. With a device that doesn't have any way to use a mouse or keyboard, an on-screen browser sucks. I've tried using the one built into one of my Samsung TVs, and it's a terrible experience. Add to that the Roku app programming language is different than what is used on other devices, no developer is going to make the effort to build an app that no one will bother using.
