PTA grants ‘grace period’ before VPN Crackdown Begins

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended the deadline to register VPNs before their nationwide ban.

In August 2024, PTA announced new legislation aimed at regulating the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The authorities classified unregistered VPNs as a “security risk”, primarily due to their potential to access sensitive data and facilitate illicit activities.

On November 10, 2024, the government conducted a six-hour trial, successfully blocking access to over two dozen VPNs across the country.

Following this, PTA has now set a two-week deadline for unregistered VPNs to register before a nationwide crackdown begins on December 1, 2024.

This decision comes amid rising concerns over unauthorised VPNs being used to bypass internet restrictions and access prohibited content.

The crackdown is backed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which has called for stricter measures against these unregistered VPNs.

The FIA cited their exploitation by terrorists and other criminal actors.

A letter from the Ministry of Interior outlined the dangers posed by unauthorised VPNs.

The ministry’s letter also highlighted Pakistan’s ranking among the top countries for accessing explicit or blasphemous content through VPNs.

In light of these concerns, the government has demanded immediate action to disable unauthorised VPNs.

Moreover, Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), declared the use of VPNs as “un-Islamic”.

The chairman argued that they enable access to blocked or unlawful websites.

He emphasised that the state must prevent any means leading to immorality, aligning the ban on VPNs with Islamic principles.

Dr Naeemi stated that using VPNs to access prohibited content constitutes “assistance in sin”.

In response to this, prominent religious figure Maulana Tariq Jamil questioned the narrow-mindedness of deeming VPNs un-Islamic.

He suggested that if VPNs are considered haram, then mobile phones should also be due to their potential to access similar content.

The crackdown on VPNs comes amid ongoing frustrations among Pakistani netizens, who face numerous restrictions on their internet freedom.

Many users rely on VPNs to access platforms like X, which has been banned in Pakistan since March 2024.

Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced mockery for a congratulatory message to US President-elect Donald Trump on X, which he accessed using a VPN.

As the deadline approaches, the PTA and the government are all set to enforce these regulations on internet users nationwide.