Srinagar, Dec 30: Several districts of Jammu and Kashmir have banned the use of virtual private network (VPN), citing security reasons, as the forces have increased cell phone surveillance to ensure that the ban order is not violated.
Kupwara, Kulgam, Budgam and Shopian districts of the Valley are the latest districts to impose a VPN ban, ordering legal action against those violating the order.
In one such order, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, Magistrate Kupwara, has referred to communications received from the police about a surge in the use of VPNs by a significant number of suspicious Internet users in the district.
“Whereas the VPN services have the potential to be exploited for unlawful and anti-national activities, including incitement of unrest, dissemination of misleading or inflammatory content and coordination of activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order and tranquillity and national security,” reads the order.
The Magistrate has warned of legal action against any violation and directed the police to ensure strict enforcement of the order in letter and spirit.
Similar prohibitory orders have been issued by the District Magistrates of Shopian, Budgam and Kulgam.
In the interest of public safety, law and order, and data security, the District Administration Budgam has ordered the suspension of all kinds of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services on mobile phones within District Budgam for a period of two months, with effect from the date of issuance of the order, unless withdrawn earlier.
The order has been issued by the District Magistrate, Budgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, following inputs received from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam regarding unprecedented and suspicious high usage of VPNs across various parts of the district.
The communication highlighted that such usage has the potential to be exploited for unlawful and anti-national activities, including incitement of unrest, dissemination of inflammatory material, and coordination of activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. It was further observed that VPNs enable encrypted data transmission, mask IP addresses, bypass firewalls and website restrictions, and may expose sensitive information to potential cyber threats.
Considering the prevailing circumstances and the need to take immediate preventive measures to safeguard public security and sensitive data, the District Magistrate deemed it necessary to impose the said restriction.
As per the order, Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, has been directed to ensure strict implementation of the order in letter and spirit.
The District Administration has appealed to the public for cooperation in the interest of maintaining peace, public order, and data security in the district.
Several other districts across Jammu and Kashmir have already imposed the ban, and more than 10 people have been booked for using VPN applications over the last month.
Last week, two people were booked for violating prohibitory orders in Doda district after they were found using VPN on their mobile phones. The booked persons have been identified as Khalid Abrar and Mohammad Irfan.
VPN misuse involves using Virtual Private Networks for unlawful activities like spreading misinformation, coordinating crime, bypassing security, or accessing banned content, posing threats to public order and national security, leading authorities (like in parts of India recently) to impose temporary bans. The cyber adversaries also exploit VPNs to hide malicious activities like identity theft or network infiltration, making careful VPN choice crucial.
