(Aiman Khattak)
During a recent meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman, Maj Gen (Retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman announced a significant policy change that the PTA will begin whitelisting virtual private networks (VPNs). Once this policy is in place, only selected VPNs will be operational in Pakistan, while all others will be blocked.
Rehman explained that the primary reason for this move is to control the surge in VPN usage among local internet users, which has spiked drastically in 2024. Many see this increase as a direct consequence of banning social media platform, X (formerly Twitter) since 19 February 2019. According to Top 10 VPN, an independent VPN review website, the demand for proxy networks surged by 131% on February 19, just two days after the X ban was implemented.
To begin with, this is not the first time the Pakistani government has attempted to regulate VPN usage. In 2022, PTA had requested public and private sector organizations, foreign missions, and freelancers to register their VPNs to avoid service disruptions. PTA had passed VPN regulations even earlier in 2010, though enforcement has been inconsistent.
The current announcement of VPN whitelisting policy by the government has sparked a heated debate, with critics raising concerns about potential violations of freedom of expression and its negative impact on the country’s IT sector. It is, however, equally important to understand the potential risks these apps pose to individual privacy and security, and the economic impact that they carry. As of now, around 132 million Pakistanis are using social media for business, yet these platforms are not taxed, posing a significant challenge to the country’s economy.
Though both paid and unpaid versions of VPNs carry risks of compromising private data, free VPNs carry a greater potential to do so. One major concern is the lack of robust security measures, as many free VPN providers do not have the resources to develop and maintain strong security protocols. This leaves users susceptible to cyber threats like malware, hacking, and phishing attacks. Moreover, free VPN services often rely on logging and selling users’ data to third-party advertisers as a means of generating revenue. Misconfigured VPNs can become a target for hackers who exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to user data. Once compromised, these VPNs can be used to spy on users and steal sensitive information.
Additionally, VPNs were designed primarily as a security and privacy tool. Unfortunately, some people use them to hide criminal activities. For example, hackers use them to conceal their identity when launching social engineering or malware attacks. While some people use VPNs to download illegal torrents or for encrypting conversations to plan terrorist attacks.
Given these risks Pakistan is also trying to take some concrete steps to regulate the VPN usage. As According to the Global VPN Adoption Index, Pakistan ranks 19 out of 86 countries where VPN usage is high. At least 27,622,389 VPN downloads were made in the country, an over 50% increase from 2022 when the number of downloads stood at 17,345,605 which is the clear indication of an alarming situation.
Moreover, Pakistan is not alone in its efforts to regulate VPN usage. According to reports, China leads the world in blocking VPN access, with about 73% of all attempts to access VPN providers being blocked. Iran and several Gulf Arab countries follow closely behind. Russia, North Korea, Iraq, the UAE, and Turkey have also implemented strict measures to restrict VPN usage, imposing significant penalties for violating VPN restrictions.
In other countries, stricter bans on tools like VPNs are being enforced. Has this led to economic collapse? Not at all! In fact, their economies are thriving and are well protected from the external cyber threats. Nevertheless, in Pakistan, there is a tendency to oppose such regulations. Individuals do not raise objections when VPN usage is restricted in locations like KSA or UAE. In these countries, freedom of expression is not jeopardized as their governments prioritize security and stability. It is solely in Pakistan where there is a demand for the liberty to make offensive remarks under the pretext of free speech.
However, the rationale behind Pakistan’s selective approach towards VPNs is the aim of keeping Pakistani internet users safe while also avoiding undue harm to the growth of IT sector. As the chairman of the PTA has stated that; “A complete ban on VPNs could have severe consequences for Pakistan’s technology industry, potentially causing the collapse of businesses that rely on VPNs for their operations. Hence it is implementing selective ban on the free and unsafe VPN servers.” Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying purpose behind the steps being taken in Pakistan, and to lend support to policies and measures that are intended to benefit the country and its technological development.
Furthermore, implementing a VPN whitelist can enhance digital safety by lowering the risk of cyber threats like cyber terrorism and cybercrime, while also ensuring trustworthy information flow and protecting cultural values. This restriction can also support economic growth by boosting local businesses and media, aiding law enforcement efforts, and combatting cybercrime. Additionally, it can help regulate online content to align with national values and cultural norms, fostering a more orderly and lawful society while nurturing domestic industries and promoting economic development.
The writer is a graduate of Peace and Conflict Studies and a free-lance columnist. She can be reached at khattakaiman2@gmail.com
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