Talks about 11 internet activities that are common but are illegal and many users are unaware due to lack of knowledge. Ties in personal experience and offers suggestions to curb frequent occurences.
By Nick Dorsey
05 Aug 2025
After reading Andriy Slynchuk’s breakdown of 11 illegal things people unknowingly do online, I realized how easy it is to cross a legal line without even thinking about it. The list includes actions like using unofficial streaming services, torrenting, using copyrighted images, sharing other people’s personal information, bullying or trolling, recording calls without consent, faking an identity, using someone else’s internet, collecting information about children, extracting audio from YouTube, and even making certain illegal searches. What stood out to me is that most of these behaviors are common and often feel harmless in the moment, yet they can carry serious consequences.
I can admit that I’ve been guilty of a few of these, especially using copyrighted images and streaming content from unofficial sites. It never really crossed my mind as something that could be considered serious because it was so normalized among friends and online communities. I’ve also shared a funny photo of someone without thinking about whether they’d want it posted, not realizing that sharing someone’s personal image without permission can be a privacy violation. These habits seem small, but the reality is they’re part of the bigger problem. The author describes how easily people overlook online boundaries.
What hit me most was the section on recording calls without consent and using someone else’s Wi-Fi. I’ve never done either with intent to commit a crime, but it made me think about how casual we can be with digital access. For example, in the past I’ve hopped on an unlocked network just to get signal without considering that it’s illegal. I can see now how this could be a bigger deal than I originally thought.
Raising awareness about these issues isn’t just about warning people of the legal risks, it’s about reshaping online habits. Articles like this are a good start, but the information needs to be shared in more relatable ways, such as social media posts, short videos, or even through digital literacy programs at schools and workplaces. People are far more likely to remember these rules if they see real-world examples of how they apply.
For me, moving forward means being more intentional about my online actions. I’m going to stick to licensed streaming services, double-check that the images I use are free for public use, and think twice before posting or sharing anything involving someone else without prior consent. I also want to make sure I’m keeping my own online footprint clean, not just for legal reasons, but because I want to respect other people’s boundaries the same way I’d want mine respected.In the end, the internet can be a great place for connection and creativity, but it’s also a space where our actions have consequences. Understanding these 11 points opened my eyes to some bad habits I need to break, and I’m committed to making those changes now rather than waiting until a mistake catches up to me. I will also educate others when the opportunity is presented.