VPNs: Pakistan's invisible digital challenge

As societies become more connected, states are recognising that the internet is no longer just a platform for communication or commerce; it is also a battleground for influence, security, and control. Countries have accordingly amended laws, strengthened cyber governance and built frameworks to counter emerging threats from digital platforms. In Pakistan, one of the most pressing challenges in this domain is the use of Virtual Private Networks, particularly illegal or unregistered VPNs, which have increasingly been exploited by extremist groups to operate with anonymity and evade monitoring.

A VPN is essentially a secure and encrypted digital tunnel that masks a user's real location, allowing access to internet services as if they were elsewhere. While globally it is a standard tool for privacy and business security, in Pakistan its misuse has serious implications. Terrorists groups have leveraged these tools to conceal their online activities. They use VPNs to disguise their locations while coordinating operations, disseminating extremist content and recruiting vulnerable individuals, particularly youth, into radical networks.

Beyond ideological influence, illegal VPNs are also used for financial purposes, allowing extremist networks to move funds through encrypted channels, foreign servers and anonymous digital wallets. This digital financial invisibility sustains their operations, from logistics and recruitment to propaganda dissemination, creating a shadow economy that remains largely beyond the reach of traditional counter-terrorism and financial monitoring mechanisms.

The importance of robust digital governance becomes clear when comparing Pakistan's situation to measures taken in other countries.

In India, VPNs are legal, but strict rules require providers to collect and retain detailed user information — including names, addresses, IP addresses, connection timestamps, and purpose of use — for at least five years. Providers who fail to comply face penalties or must stop operating in India.

In China, VPN use is tightly controlled. Only state-approved or licensed VPNs are allowed, and foreign or unlicensed services are banned. The government enforces this through technical blocks, penalties and crackdowns on both providers and users who attempt to bypass restrictions.

In Germany and across the EU, VPNs providers must follow strict data protection rules under the General Data Protection Regulation, covering data storage, user consent and transparency.

In the UK, VPNs providers may be compelled to cooperate with government surveillance under the Investigatory Powers Act, giving authorities access to certain user data for security purposes.

The pattern is clear: while VPNs are legally allowed, their use is subject to regulations that either enforce strict state control, as in India and China, or require compliance with privacy and security laws, as in the EU and UK.

The lesson for Pakistan is that it must regulate its VPN ecosystem. Towards this end, the government should adopt a multi-pronged approach by:

• Establishing clear laws and guidelines governing VPN usage, including mandatory registration and compliance.

• Investing in monitoring systems capable of detecting suspicious or malicious VPN traffic, while balancing privacy concerns for legitimate users.

• Strengthening coordination between cybersecurity agencies, intelligence services, and law enforcement to swiftly identify and neutralise threats facilitated through VPNs.

• Launching awareness campaigns highlighting the risks of unregulated VPN usage, particularly how it can be misused by extremist groups.

• Collaborating with global tech firms and international law enforcement to trace and block VPN-facilitated terrorist networks operating across borders.

For Pakistan, acting decisively on digital governance and VPN regulation is no longer optional; it is a strategic necessity.