Pakistan Government’s VPN Crackdown:

The recent action of the official Pakistan with regard to the limit on VPN and the implementation of the system of content blocking received critiques from the specialists in the sphere of cybersecurity and activists for the protection of digital rights. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) says this step is needed to block the banned content and increase security of the country. Critics of the crackdown, nevertheless, believe that a new wave of invasions of the privacy of the cyberspace users, new limitations to freedom of speech and Free, new insecurities in the communication networks.

The PTA wants to allow some VPNs and block all the rest; this means that organizations interested in using VPNs will have to register themselves and their VPNs, putting their data at the mercy of hackers and surveillance agencies. This doesn’t only contradict the basic function of VPNs, which is to safeguard networks against access from unauthorised users. Also, the government’s demands for data localisation and content blocking will result in the generation of a massive database of users’ activities online, which will be an enriching source for hackers and surveillance agencies.

The government’s approach poses a threat not only to internet security but also to many businesses that use VPNs for their international ventures. This reason as propounded by the government does not hold water as localization of data will only put data at the mercy of hackers and the likes. The intent to develop a local communication app called Bleep has also fuelled its scrutiny with regards to surveillance and censorship.

The Pakistani government’s actions demonstrate an ancient understanding of technology and network security, showing that governmental institutions lack adequate knowledge in these areas. Instead of collaborating with other professionals in developing better security, the government is going for a constricting agenda that will lead to the overall impact on freedom and security on the internet. It is high time for us to react and defend the progress made in Pakistan’s digital arena, which is a beacon of hope in an otherwise struggling country.