You might not realize it, but there are several illegal things you unknowingly do on a daily without even thinking about it. This is partly because there are some laws some of us have no idea about. Today, I'm going to be sharing with you some of the illegal things we do every day without knowing.
1) Downloading free stuff: Isn't it so amazing that these days, you can easily download something online for free within a few seconds? Well, as convenient as it may be, you might be breaking the law. You can't watch movies for free, period. Most movies are copy-righted and the websites you watch them on don’t have permission to stream them.
2) Connecting to public wifi: All of us have used public wifi before because it's so easy to find. But how many of us know that you have to have the owner's permission and accept the terms of service before connecting to public wifi? I just found out that there have been people arrested for connecting to public wifi without following due process. So think twice before you press that connect button next time.
3) Selling online without declaring your income: Well, this is only for well-aged people who make living from selling items online. The convenience involved in e-commerce is the reason most people refuse to declare their earnings online alongside their income for tax deductions. Money made online is categorized as personal earnings and must be taxed with your other sources of income.
4) Using a fake name online: Sometimes, it seems way easier to set up your account with a name that you like best or that of your favorite cartoon character. Some people even go as far as creating fake government IDs with impersonating-identities. What most people don't know is that it's actually illegal. It could even send you to prison for up to 5-20 years! Using another person’s name online is very wrong, not only on a moral level but also legally. So next time you're creating an account, just use your name and be yourself!
5) Streaming TV shows for free: Most people forget that there are laws that protect the tv shows we binge-watch every day. One easy way to know if it's legal or not is to see if there are any ads in it. There are also several streaming networks where you can watch your favorite tv shows, like, Netflix, Hulu, ABC, etc. Even though they’re not free, I think it’s worth making sure you're having fun legally.
6) Eating before paying in the store: Let's be honest, we've all done this before. Either to save money or before buying the product to ensure you like it. Just be careful. Because, according to the law, you should pay for something before using it in any form at all, this includes “testing’. When next you're in doubt, just ask around the store.
7) Using copyrighted content: The pictures or music we use in our presentations are usually subject to copyright and are not to be used in just any way. There are situations where it’s okay and actually considered fair use, however, the way most of us use them is illegal and it's best to just check to find out before taking someone's content for your use.
8) Texting while driving: This one is probably the biggest and most serious thing on this list. It’s stressful, dangerous, and even illegal. If you need to really respond to a text message while driving, you might as well just pull over and send the message. Not even just about yourself, but also other people using the road. When you’re in a car, you’re operating a heavy chunk of machinery that should not be handled carelessly, so just pay attention!
9) Recording Skype, or other video or voice conversations: Millions of people all around the world use at least one type of video or voice message system. According to the law, you cannot record a conversation without both parties knowing about it. So next time, respect the other person’s privacy and let them know before you record that personal conversation.
10) Sharing passwords: It’s so convenient for people to share passwords, especially with friends and family. But what most people don’t know is that you don’t just need the owner of the password’s permission, but also that of the site owner. This likewise includes subscription services such as Netflix. The problem with this law is that it’s almost impossible to enforce because I don’t know any Netflix user who isn’t using someone else’s password ;). But it is illegal, that means there are certainly consequences for doing it.
11) Using social media when you’re underage: It’s not that big of a deal that people know that you should be at least 13 before using social media. For example, you should be 16 before you use Whatsapp. Several other social media platforms require you to be older. We should encourage young people to do other fun stuff so that their childhood does not pass by right next to them while their eyes were glued to the screen.
Which one of these points did you find most surprising? Do you think some of these are unnecessary? Let’s discuss this down in the comment section. Don’t forget to like and share this post with your friends and until next time, make sure you stay positive!
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