Parliamentary panel's proposed VPN ban draws flak from users, industry

A ban would open the door to increased censorship, including blocks to popular apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter that a VPN would be able to circumvent, say experts

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs' recent suggestion to permanently block the use of virtual private networks has drawn flak from users online as well as industry that deals with the use of VPN.

The report by the committee, tabled on August 10, states: "The Committee notes with anxiety the technological challenge posed by Virtual Private Network (VPN) services and Dark Web that can bypass cyber security walls and allow criminals to remain anonymous online. As of date, VPN can easily be downloaded, as many websites are providing such facilities and advertising them. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry