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Comment by throw0101b | Hacker News Reader

This reminds me of the 'original' 2019 video by Tom Scott called "This Video Is Sponsored By [redacted] VPN" where he explains most of the reasons listed to use VPN by ads is useless:

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVDQEoe6ZWY

And then a few years later with "My robot double sells out (so I don't have to)" he did a follow-up listing useful reasons (geo-based content, better prices on vacation sites, etc) which was sponsored by NordVPN:

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXlQuTRSmzc&t=6m25s

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Isn't he now doing a lot of NordVPN ads himself in recent videos too? Turns out everyone has their price.

Thats not selling out. If he keeps the old video up and doesn't make the claim that NordVPN does things it doesn't actually do, then he's just advertising.

There are legitimate uses for VPNs, they're just not the reasons these VPNs advertise (the the parent comment says).

He‘s still selling his advertisement time to a company that employs shady business tactics?

He doesn't make false claims, but he also doesn't tell people they'll be used as a botnet. Feels like something that would be relevant to know.

As far as I know, while they might be using a botnet to geo-unblock streaming sites (which is what many VPNs do, and at least somewhat shady/ethically dubious if it happens without explicit user consent of the users whose devices/networks are being used), there isn't any evidence for NordVPN users being used as a botnet.

That original video, however, was extremely one-sided and was by and large shared around by people who believed there was absolutely no reason to use a VPN. In the second video, he of course has to address this, and just backhandedly blames a segment of his viewers for this; but, of course, he had never bothered to provide any clarification or correction in the years since he had posted the prior video, instead deciding to enjoy the benefits of his video becoming a tool to back up misinformation right up until he had an actual incentive to move to the other side. This is the hallmark of a dishonest individual who cares much more about their bottom line than the content they post.

I wouldn't say "a lot", but he did some. He never said he would never do VPN ads, he said he would not do it using the false advertisement talking points. For example, when speaking of geo-block bypassing, he alway mention this probably goes against the terms of services of most streaming services.

Out of curiosity I scrubbed through his 20 latest videos and three of them had NordVPN segments. To be fair on him though, he "only" promotes it as a way to get around geo restrictions when travelling the world. Accessing UK websites for example. If I remember his original video, it was more a complaint about people promoting VPN as "more secure" against hackers and such.

Yes he does now, though if I remember correctly he makes absolutely zero claims about privacy or security enhancements and focuses on the region-shifting capabilities (especially as a Brit who frequently travels abroad)

he explains most of the reasons listed to use VPN by ads is useless

It's not like they can advertise the actual reason people pay for VPNs, which is piracy and other illegal activities.

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