Rabat – Using VPNs could go against Islamic laws, declared The Pakistani Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in a statement on Monday.
The council chair, Raghib Naeemi, said Virtual Private Networks might spread “evil” by allowing access to immoral or harmful content. He added that the government can block such activities under Islamic teachings.
“Whether it is a registered VPN or unregistered, if it is used to access indecent or immoral sites, character assassination, (issue) statements against national security, or spread religious blasphemy, then (using) it would completely be un-Islamic,” said Raghib Naeemi. He added that it is not haram if the platform is used for education, communication, or transmitting positive messages.
Pakistan already has strict internet rules. Since February 2023, access to X, formerly Twitter, has been blocked as it was deemed a “threat to national security”.
The government claimed that many users turn to VPNs to access social platforms, bypass obscene content restrictions, as well as to aid terrorist communications.
The government says this ban is needed to maintain order, but critics argue it’s about muzzling the public.
VPNs hide what people do online, making it harder for authorities to track them. In this way, they allow access to sites blocked in that particular location. They are legal in most countries but are restricted where governments control internet use.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority wants users to register VPNs. This would let them monitor online activity more closely.
The authority announced a “streamlined” VPN registration process that allows “legitimate users to register their VPNs through a new online platform.”
To register a VPN, the user must submit, among other details, a subscriber ID issued by the person’s internet service provider, a national identity card number and the IP address, which is a unique number that identifies a device connected to the internet.
Experts say such information can enable authorities to track online activities, limit privacy and increase a person’s vulnerability to data breaches.
Supporters of ex-prime minister Imran Khan have also used VPNs to organize protests.
Pakistan’s military and government have blamed such online activity for fueling unrest.
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