ISLAMABAD: Multiple internet users in Pakistan reported on Sunday they were experiencing “restrict-ed access” to virtual private networks (VPNs), alongside poor internet connectivity.
VPNs are widely used around the world to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked for in-ternet users in their home country. In the case of Pakistanis, VPNs are used to access X, among other restricted websites. In August, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was clamping down on VPN usage, aiming to prevent access to the already banned social media platform X.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in September that X had been banned due to national securi-ty issues, not to curb freedom of expression. He added that “separatists and terrorists” were using the platform against Pakistan, which could not be allowed.
In the same month, the PTA dispelled rumours and clarified that VPNs in the country were not being blocked.
However, multiple X users in Pakistan took to the platform on Sunday and said that VPNs were being slowed down and access was being restricted.
According to the outage tracking website Downdetector, users reported outages on VPN services VPN Unlimited and Tunnelbear, with nearly all reported issues related to connecting to a virtual private network.
A graph on the site shows that VPN Unlimited users were still reporting problems, with a peak of 10 reports submitted by 6:15pm. Similarly, Tunnelbear users submitted reports as late as 7:29pm. –Agencies
