Pakblogger.tk

Pakistan has banned the use of encryption software or VPN ,VPNs allow you to go undetected while using the Internet and sending messages. They are commonly used to access blocked sites or to create a secure network for a business’s remote employees.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority sent a legal notice to the country’s ISPs, ordering them to turn in customers who use VPNs, The Guardian reports. According to the notice, anyone who wants to use a VPN needs to ask for special permission.

Pakistani authorities say the purpose of the ban, which was instated in 2010 but was not seriously enforced, is to inhibit terrorist communications. All Internet activity in Pakistan is routed through the state-run Pakistan Internet Exchange, creating an easy opportunity for the government to monitor messages that aren’t protected by a VPN.

It’s not the first time Pakistan has drastically restricted its citizens’ online actions. Last year, the Lahore High Court ordered authorities to temporarily ban Facebook due to a contest calling for caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W). Authorities also blocked YouTube due to sacrilegious content.

Although the Pakistani Government hasn’t succeeded in curbing terrorism but is at the same time enforcing these rules which also affect the General Citizens , making their online activities insecure and unsafe.

Update: The Chairman PTA has said that VPN’s were not banned to monitor terrorists but this ban has been placed to prevent illegal VOIP service providers! ( Reported by DAWN NEWS)