Is Pakistan Starting a Crackdown on "Unregistered" VPNs?
VPNs were back to normal operation on Sunday night.
In Pakistan, legislation has begun to be implemented that restricts the use of VPNs, creating issues for many residents trying to access these services. This past Sunday, November 9, 2024, users of various VPN applications reported difficulties. After a period of silence, local authorities confirmed that these inconveniences were due to a "minor technical problem," assuring that VPN services returned to normal by the end of the day. They also reiterated the importance of VPN providers registering in the country to avoid future disruptions.
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) had announced in August plans to regulate the use of VPNs, seeking to mitigate misuse and associated security risks. Authorities have stated that unregistered VPNs pose a "security risk" due to their potential to access "sensitive data."
Data from Proton VPN indicate a significant increase in the use of their service, with a 350% spike in traffic following the reported issues with other VPNs. In 2024, VPN services have become essential for the daily lives of many Pakistanis, as they allow access to geographically restricted content.
Throughout this year, authorities have tightly controlled the internet, with one of the most notable examples being the inability to access X (formerly known as Twitter) since February without using a VPN. Experts suggest that this growing censorship is one of the main causes of the declining quality of internet service in the country.
Regarding legality, while Pakistan is regulating their use, VPNs are not illegal or completely prohibited. Legitimate use is allowed in sectors such as banking, foreign missions, corporate enterprises, universities, IT companies, call centers, and freelance professionals. Authorities are urging businesses in these sectors to complete the VPN registration with the PTA to avoid service interruptions. Since 2020, over 20,000 VPN IP addresses have already been registered in Pakistan.
While the affected VPN services returned to normal by the end of the day, it is ironic that this "technical problem" arose shortly after the Prime Minister of Pakistan congratulated the elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, in a post on X, a platform that has had restricted access in the country since February.
