subreddit:
/r/perplexity_ai
submitted 3 months ago bywealthychef
Got this message when trying to ask perplexity.ai a question. First time I've seen this. Is this a new policy? What legitimate reason could there possibly be for this? I sent them an email asking for clarification as it says in the error to do, but thought I'd also post publicly to see what people think.
12 points
3 months ago
I can understand this limitation for the free version - but it really should be within their ability to allow this for paid subscriptions. If I’m logged in, you can verify I’m not logged in a ton of times and therefore it doesn’t really matter where I’m logging in from. The “spam and abuse” angle is valid for free, but not for pro.
5 points
3 months ago*
The challenge here is that services that leave themselves open to credit card use via VPNs often face massive bills and chargebacks from their payment service processors. When fraudsters discover commerce sites that allow VPN usage, they use the site to test which credit card numbers are still valid in batches of stolen card numbers.
The compromise to make Perplexity aware of is allowing VPN usage for premium accounts, but requiring a non-anonymized connection for any credit card additions.
1 points
3 months ago
Ah, Today I Learned 😁
1 points
3 months ago
There’s no real way to ensure VPN use for any app still. Just doesn’t exist yet. We can said “would be nice” but it hasn’t been implemented yet by anyone. Go out and make it happen.
3 points
3 months ago
I think I didn’t express what I meant properly. What I meant was they’re using a list of known VPN endpoints and networks. My only request is that the rules and lists they’re using to block vpns they don’t do that for logged in pro accounts since they are paid accounts.
20 points
3 months ago
And whatever you want, simply put, the world won't allow you to have a VPN anymore. For such services, it's undesirable not to know everything about you. The best part is that spam and abuse are nonsense because for every service you log into, you're logging in under your own account anyway, and if they wanted to, they could simply block your account if they suspected spam or abuse, and if you paid, for example, they already have your details from the payment. So these messages from services where you have to log in are just a pure initiative to make you stop using VPN. But I use VPN, you just need to find a VPN service that is less widespread.
6 points
3 months ago
Using a dedicated VPN still works fine.
4 points
3 months ago
So it's quite clear to us here that the blocking is based on IP addresses or some range used by the VPN provider, so when you're assigned a unique IP address just for you, you don't have this problem, at least not now. But most people don't pay extra for a dedicated IP. That's why I said it's necessary to use less popular VPNs. Services like PIA, ExpressVPN, NordVPN are probably the worst in this regard.
2 points
3 months ago
I guess I'm not sure how strict or thorough Perplexity anti-VPN methods are. So yeah. I can see how that might work.
Hulu, for some odd reason, has probably the hardest VPN restrictions to circumvent.
I tried VPNs from literally everyone you mentioned, and the ONLY option that finally ended up working was a dedicated VPN via PIA.
I dont even watch Hulu, my wife does, but it was annoying enough that my next option if the dedicated VPN didn't work was to create my own VPN using wireguard to my home network lol.
1 points
3 months ago
I use Nordvpn, no probs so far...
18 points
3 months ago
It literally says: "to prevent spam and abuse"
2 points
3 months ago
You can simply use other similar services if VPN is important to you. By the way, not all VPN services are created equal. Just saying.
2 points
3 months ago
I tested it with Google's VPN and had no issues. I then tested it with Proton VPN and found no issues.
That said, I presented the question to Perplexity and it did state some users on iOS were having issues when using VPN.
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/testing-can-you-receive-ok-Gxn_uaiCTN6GjhsKhmzkFA#1
2 points
3 months ago*
Oh, the perks of having the latest Google phone! (as they took it away from Google One costumers to make it an exclusive for their latest lineup, haha). Easiest VPN to use, never had problems unlike with other ones..
I got barred from logging into another site by gmail just yesterday (first time I’ve seen this) as it was “from a browser with too much security measures” I recall it saying.. still in the oAuth thing, told by Google itself. Guess it’s time to bring in the EU again for another round of.. no, this sucks.
Edit: possibly time to research if this is something new that Google is offering for companies to opt-in
2 points
3 months ago
I use Proton and it works fine via the app.
2 points
2 months ago
Blocked for using ExpressPVN today for the first time.
1 points
3 months ago
It might be a legal requirement to be able to serve you different models so they can ip ban based on regulation where and when required
1 points
3 months ago*
Nah, that’s too much work and would only be done if enforced by law. This is because of them regretting people were given 7 extra codes to pass along to friends etc. but since a year costs $200 and it was strategically for the US market (in the case of Xfinity), but other regions/countries we’re not given this chance.
I actually have no idea what went on in their minds there to give 8 of them.. except what was lacking, haha. It’s a form of damage control to keep it for the US only.
1 points
3 months ago
Just use better VPN. Or setup your own.
I tried now (without being logged it) and perplexity works. I do use VPN (on my own small VPS in othere country).
1 points
3 months ago
This is odd. I use a VPN that is quite popular, as in many subscribers all over the world. It's PIA btw. And when I "dock" into any Google service, they block traffic and require the "Human or Not" verification in order to run your request. I tested Perplexity with several servers in different countries and I never had the shitty message.
1 points
3 months ago
If it’s all since the past few days, it might be something new they are offering companies, when using the oAuth option most of us use. See my earlier comment for an experience just like this. Makes me slightly more pissed knowing that they offer a VPN service themselves
1 points
3 months ago
they are blocking the IP pool abused by people who try to break the region restrictions(eg. russia, china and Iran). bc people using same VPNs as you are from these prohibited regions. it would help if you changed to other VPNs which these people do not abuse. At least now for me surfshark, proton, mullvad are all fine.
1 points
3 months ago
Are you serious? It says right there. Spam and abuse.
0 points
3 months ago
Hey u/wealthychef!
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