PTA Begins Blocking Unregistered VPNs Despite Extended Deadline

Multiple internet users across Pakistan reported on Friday night that they are experiencing restricted access to virtual private networks (VPNs), alongside poor internet connectivity. This development comes amid a government crackdown on unregistered VPN services, despite an earlier notification extending the registration deadline to November 30, 2024. VPNs are widely used globally to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked in a user’s home country. In Pakistan, VPNs are often employed to access X (formerly Twitter) and other restricted websites. On Friday, the Interior Ministry directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block “illegal VPNs” nationwide. The ministry cited concerns that terrorists are exploiting VPNs to “facilitate violent activities” and access “pornographic and blasphemous content.” In a letter to the PTA, the ministry stated, “VPNs are increasingly being exploited by terrorists to obscure and conceal their communications. VPNs are also being used to discreetly access pornographic and blasphemous contents.” The letter urged the PTA to block illegal VPNs so that legitimate, registered VPN users would not be affected. Despite the extension of the VPN registration deadline to November 30, 2024, users have reported disruptions in VPN services. The PTA had previously assured that VPN registration would be streamlined through an online portal to support uninterrupted access for IT companies, freelancers, and other stakeholders. Multiple users took to social media platforms on Friday to report difficulties in connecting to VPN services. According to the outage tracking website Downdetector, users reported outages on VPN services like VPN Unlimited and TunnelBear, with nearly all issues related to establishing a connection. Some users resorted to sharing lists of VPN services that remain functional in Pakistan. However, others reported that even these services were experiencing intermittent connectivity issues. On Wednesday, the PTA announced that VPN usage would be restricted to curb access to pornographic content. In a statement, the authority claimed it had so far blocked 100,183 URLs containing blasphemous content and 844,008 pornographic websites. It also noted that approximately 20 million attempts were made daily from within the country to access pornographic websites, which were blocked at the international gateway level. The PTA’s statement came a day after the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony wrote to the regulator, requesting the blocking of blasphemous and pornographic content. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) declared the use of VPNs “illegal” on Friday. CII Chairman Allama Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated, “Using the internet or any software (VPN, etc.) intended to access immoral or illegal activities is strictly prohibited. Using a VPN with the intention of accessing illegal content or blocked websites is illegitimate in Sharia.” He added that while VPN technology generally provides security and privacy, it is also used to access websites that are against Sharia or blocked by the government, including immoral or pornographic websites. The crackdown on VPNs has raised concerns among digital rights advocates and businesses. The restrictions could impact freelancers, IT companies, and other stakeholders who rely on VPNs for secure communication and accessing international platforms. Despite the PTA’s assurance of a streamlined registration process, the premature blocking of unregistered VPNs has led to confusion and disruption. Some users have reported that even registered VPNs are experiencing connectivity issues.