Several booked in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly flouting ban on VPN
The administration issued orders against the use of VPN on December 29, citing a threat to national security and apprehensions of ‘incitement to unrest’.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday registered first information reports and initiated “security proceedings” against several persons for allegedly flouting a ban on the use of virtual private networks, or VPN, reported NDTV.
On December 29, the administration issued prohibitory orders against the use of VPN, citing a threat to national security and apprehensions of “incitement to unrest”, according to The Wire.
While the ex parte ban was first introduced in the Doda and Kishtwar districts of the Chenab Valley, it has since been extended to other areas.
A virtual private network, or VPN, allows users to mask their location and browse the internet without divulging their search history to the internet service providers by using remote servers. The tool is often used by investigative journalists and ethical hackers to access websites that are banned in their countries.
The police have been enforcing the ban on VPN by checking the mobile phones of residents, NDTV reported.
In Budgam district, the police on Saturday registered two first information reports and initiated “security proceedings” against 11 persons found using VPNs, The Wire reported.
A total of 24 persons were identified for violating the ban between December 29 and Friday, and all were released with warnings, according to NDTV. Some of them had to sign bonds.
In Pulwama, police identified 95 persons using VPNs on Thursday and initiated preventive proceedings against 43 of them. However, no FIRs were registered after technical scrutiny and background checks showed “no terror-related adverse background”, The Hindu reported.
In Baramulla district’s Sopore area, 23 persons were found using VPNs, with proceedings initiated against 15 on Thursday, the newspaper reported.
Besides, the police also took action against five persons in Anantnag and six in Kulgam.
While VPN use is not illegal nationwide, officials said the restrictions were imposed under emergency powers to address specific security concerns in the Union Territory, The Wire reported.
Previous directives from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have required VPN providers to maintain user records, a move that has drawn criticism from privacy advocates.
