Authorized VPNs of government departments will be exempt from this restriction.
Digital Desk, Srinagar. District Magistrate Srinagar, in exercise of powers under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defense Code, has ordered immediate suspension of all Virtual Private Network services in the area of District Srinagar for two months.
Steps taken to stop anti-national activities
The order said that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, had expressed apprehension of misuse of VPN services by certain people, which could adversely affect civil safety and cyber security in the district. The district administration observed during investigation that with the help of VPN, some features can be used for illegal and anti-national activities, which include spreading unrest, spreading inflammatory material and coordinating activities harmful to maintain law and order. The administration considered it necessary to ban it before its serious consequences emerge.
How do VPN services work and why are they a threat?
VPN services help users hide IP addresses and bypass website blocking and firewalls by sending encrypted data and creating point-to-point tunnels. The Administration observed that such features could be used for illegal and anti-national activities, including inciting unrest, spreading inflammatory material, and coordinating activities detrimental to the maintenance of law and order.
Government department got exemption
It has been clarified in the order that this suspension will not apply to authorized VPN use by government departments working through the National Informatics Centre. Administrative sources said that it was not considered practical to give separate notices to all the concerned people, hence the order has been issued unilaterally.
The administration has directed that this order should be widely publicized through the district website, major newspapers and by placing copies on the notice boards of the offices of the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Sub Divisional Magistrate of Srinagar East and West and all Tehsildars. Not only this, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar has been instructed to implement the order strictly.