‘Terrorists’ Are Using VPNs to Spread Propaganda and Mislead Public: PTA

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has claimed that terrorists are using illegal virtual private networks (VPNs) to spread propaganda and mislead the public.

The regulator has intensified its campaign to block unregistered VPNs and suspicious websites, citing national security concerns, sources informed ProPakistani.

Sources said the regulator has identified the culprits and will take action accordingly.

Sources said these unauthorized VPNs are being used by terrorists to hide their identities while spreading propaganda and misinformation. It bears mentioning that despite these concerns, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif still uses VPNs to access apps like X (ex-twitter). He recently used a VPN to tweet a congratulatory message to President elect Donald Trump for his victory in last week’s US elections.

PTA has already blocked a large number of illegal URLs and websites distributing immoral content following forensic investigations.

From 2018 to 2024, the PTA blocked 100,183 URLs with blasphemous content and restricted access to more than 844,008 pornographic sites. Despite these measures, about 20 million attempts are made daily to access pornographic websites within Pakistan and many use VPNs to bypass restrictions.

Sources added that PTA has determined several accounts linked to these VPNs, with verification processes underway to prevent further misuse. PTA wants to stop the misuse of uncertified VPNs is crucial to curbing the spread of harmful content and maintaining national security, sources added.