Users accessing the SoundCloud audio streaming platform through a virtual private network (VPN) connection are denied access to the service and see a 403 ‘forbidden’ error.

SoundCloud is a large audio distribution platform focused on user-uploaded content, built around independent creators rather than licensed music from major labels. It has at least 140 million registered users and 40 million creators.

Due to its open, unmoderated nature, the platform has been banned in China since 2014, in Russia since 2022, and is restricted in Venezuela, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Because of this, users in these regions rely on a VPN or proxy solution to bypass the blocks.