KARACHI: The demand for VPN services has more than doubled in Pakistan, which is ranked third among the five countries with the longest internet outages in 2024.
Based on studies on global issues pertaining to internet freedom, Pakistan is ranked third by independent review website Top10VPN because of the country’s protracted social media shutdown.
For the past forty-five days or more, Pakistan has been unable to access X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to Darbar Mutaher Khan, co-founder of Data, “VPN services and web accelerators were the fastest growing subgenre in 2023, rising by 42%,” he said to The News. A surge in VPN usage was also observed in Pakistan during the year, despite various internet restrictions.”
On February 17, Pakistan prohibited access to X. According to Top10VPN’s live tracker, on February 19, demand for VPNs in the nation surged by 131%.
Although demand fell off during the next few days, by the end of February it had rebounded to levels up to 80% above usual.
The News was also informed by digital rights campaigner and Bolo Bhi director Usama Khilji that “VPNs provide security to those who are susceptible to surveillance from hostile state and non-state actors.”
Khan went on, “Using these kinds of apps is neutral and sometimes even necessary. Particularly in Pakistan, where the government is so determined to control the internet that it prevents access to even the most fundamental social media sites.”
