Telecom regulator begins trial blocking of VPNs in Pakistan, reports say

WEB DESK: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reportedly started clamping down on virtual private networks (VPN). Microsoft Azure defines VPN as a means to create “a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts your personal data, masks your IP address, and lets you sidestep website blocks and firewalls on the internet.”

M-1, M-2 opened after fog clears

On Sunday (yesterday), user reports emerged across multiple social media platforms, of difficulties in accessing VPN services as well as reduced internet connectivity. Reportedly, the PTA has started blocking unregistered VPN services across the country.

PTA sources have said that only the unregistered VPNs are being blocked by web management systems, adding that these VPNs are being temporarily blocked for whitelisting.

PTA started registrations of VPNs in 2010, and so far it has registered nearly 20,500 VPN services. The authority deems unregistered VPNs as a security risk, saying that “unregistered and illegal VPNs can access sensitive data”. However, there is no ban on VPNs for business use in Pakistan, PTA sources said.

PTA wants to speed up the process of whitelisting VPNs, PTA sources said, adding that countries like China, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Turkey have also blocked unregistered VPNs.

Four districts of Punjab to close markets by 8 PM

The PTA has yet to issue an official statement on the complaints of difficulty in accessing VPN services.

It is pertinent to mention here that PTA has already blocked the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, with the reason of the platform being used by “separatists and terrorists”.