Sun Nov 17 12:15:38 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Declares VPN Use Unlawful Under Islamic Law, Sparking Privacy Concerns

**ISLAMABAD** – Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to access blocked content unlawful under Sharia law, escalating the government’s crackdown on online dissent and raising serious privacy concerns. The ruling coincides with the government’s implementation of a nationwide firewall and mandatory VPN registration through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

While the government claims these measures are necessary to enhance cybersecurity and combat terrorism, critics argue they are a thinly veiled attempt to stifle freedom of expression and increase online surveillance. The CII specifically cited the use of VPNs to access pornography and websites deemed to spread disinformation as violations of Islamic and social norms, characterizing it as “abetting in sin.”

The Ministry of Interior echoed these concerns in a letter to the PTA, highlighting the alleged exploitation of VPNs by terrorist groups for violent activities and financial transactions, as well as the high number of visits to adult websites via VPNs. The ministry has given users until the end of the month to register their VPNs, providing personal details including national identity numbers.

This move follows widespread VPN disruptions, believed by experts to be a government trial of a new Chinese-made firewall system, which critics fear will dramatically increase government monitoring capabilities. The government denies throttling internet access.

The restrictions particularly impact access to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), largely inaccessible since the February general elections. While the government cites national security, opponents argue the measures primarily target political criticism, especially given the growing backlash against the military’s influence in politics following the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The mandatory VPN registration process, requiring users to disclose personal information, has further fueled privacy concerns and fears of potential data breaches. The combination of the religious decree, the new firewall, and the registration requirement has sparked widespread condemnation from those who see it as a significant infringement on online freedoms.

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