November 14, 2024
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
In recent days, several internet users in Pakistan have reported disruptions in internet services and limited access to VPN services.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), this issue arose due to a technical glitch that temporarily affected the use of VPNs.
However, media reports indicate that the PTA has moved to restrict free VPN services available on the internet, making registration mandatory for their usage.
Commenting on the VPN restrictions, digital rights activist Haroon Baloch told VoicePK that mandatory VPN registration would negatively impact journalists, human rights activists, and other political workers by compromising the privacy of their sources. Furthermore, freelancers who rely on VPNs for their work would also face challenges.
Journalist and activist Asad Ali Toor, speaking to VoicePK on the same issue, stated that social media restrictions amount to a violation of freedom of expression. He noted that when the state blocks access to platforms like Twitter, people turn to VPNs to access them, and now even this option is being taken away.
Digital rights advocate Fareeha Aziz added that VPN registration requires users to provide sensitive information, such as their IP addresses, which poses privacy risks. She further explained that due to frequent internet disruptions, using VPNs for data transfer on social media has become essential, and without them, performing daily online tasks is challenging.
It is noteworthy that Twitter, now called X, has been blocked in Pakistan for several months, and users typically rely on VPNs to access it.