Context:
Rising cybercrime and security breaches have prompted experts to demand a crackdown on free, unregistered VPNs, describing stronger regulation as crucial to ensuring Pakistan’s digital security.
To protect public safety and national cyber defense, the Government and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) must enforce a complete ban on all free and unregistered VPNs, allowing only licensed, security-vetted VPN services.
Important Aspects
▪︎ PTA must enforce the use of only licensed, registered VPNs.
▪︎ Free VPNs secretly log and sell user data.
▪︎ Unregistered VPNs are exploited by hackers, scammers, and anti-state networks.
▪︎ Unsafe VPNs weaken national cybersecurity and expose citizens to malware.
▪︎ Government must block all free/unregistered VPN IPs.
▪︎ Violators may face penalties, service suspension, or investigation.
▪︎ Businesses using unregistered VPNs risk legal and operational fallout.
▪︎ Secure, compliant VPNs protect privacy, finances, and national security.
Regional Context
Countries like India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh already restrict or ban unauthorized VPNs as part of their national-security frameworks. Pakistan must adopt the same model.