VPN services suspended in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jan 05: The District Magistrate Srinagar has ordered the immediate suspension of all Virtual Private Network services within the territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar for a period of two months, invoking powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

The order states that the Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar had reported apprehensions regarding the misuse of VPN services by vested interests, which could have adverse implications for public order and cyber security in the district.

According to the order, VPN services, by transmitting encrypted data and creating point to point tunnels, enable users to conceal IP addresses and bypass website restrictions and firewalls.

The administration observed that such features carry the potential to be exploited for unlawful and anti national activities, including incitement of unrest, dissemination of inflammatory material, and coordination of activities prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order.

The District Magistrate noted that the unrestricted use of VPNs poses serious risks to public safety, cyber security, and the protection of sensitive data, making it imperative to take immediate preventive measures in the larger public interest.
However, the order clarifies that the suspension shall not apply to authorised VPN usage by government departments operating through the National Informatics Centre.

As serving individual notices to all concerned persons was deemed impractical, the order has been issued ex parte. The administration has directed that the order be given wide publicity through the district website, leading newspapers, and by affixing copies on notice boards of the offices of the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Sub Divisional Magistrates of Srinagar East and West, and all tehsildars.

The Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar has been instructed to ensure strict implementation of the order in letter and spirit. [KNT]