Authorities ban VPNs in Kishtwar, intensify digital restrictions in IIOJK
Jammu: In yet another instance of digital censorship in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), authorities in Kishtwar have imposed a complete ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, an order issued by the District Magistrate Kishtwar said that the decision follows “credible inputs” suggesting that certain individuals and groups were using VPNs to bypass restrictions and access prohibited digital platforms.
The order claimed that such tools could be misused for “unlawful and anti-national” activities, stressing the need to curb such usage to ensure cyber security and maintain public order.
The ban has been enforced with immediate effect and applies to all individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, business establishments and Internet Service Providers operating within the district. The authorities have warned that any violation will invite strict legal action.
Notably, similar restrictions on VPN usage have previously been imposed in several other districts of IIOJK.
Kashmir watchers argue that such measures, often justified on so-called security grounds, effectively restrict access to information in IIOJK. With multiple news websites and social media platforms already blocked in the territory, many Kashmiris rely on VPNs to access these services, making the latest move widely viewed as an extension of digital censorship.
