In a decisive move to strengthen public safety and cyber security, the District Magistrate of Srinagar has ordered an immediate suspension of all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services across the district for a period of two months. The order has been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
According to officials, the suspension follows concerns raised by the Senior Superintendent of Police, who highlighted the potential misuse of VPN services by certain individuals or groups. VPNs, which encrypt internet traffic and create secure point-to-point tunnels, allow users to hide their IP addresses and bypass online restrictions. While this technology is commonly used for privacy and secure communication, authorities expressed fears that it could be exploited for unlawful activities, including spreading inflammatory content, inciting unrest, and coordinating operations harmful to public order.
The District Magistrate emphasized that the unrestricted use of VPNs poses serious risks to law and order, cyber security, and the protection of sensitive data. Consequently, preventive action was deemed necessary in the larger public interest.
The suspension will not affect authorized government VPNs operating through the National Informatics Centre, ensuring essential administrative functions remain uninterrupted. As serving individual notices to all users was considered impractical, the order has been issued ex parte. Residents and stakeholders have been urged to comply, with the administration directing wide publicity of the order through newspapers, the district website, and notice boards in government offices.
The Senior Superintendent of Police has been tasked with ensuring strict enforcement of the ban. Authorities warned that any violation could attract legal action, underlining the seriousness of the directive.
This suspension highlights the growing focus on cyber security in Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the administration’s proactive approach to safeguarding public order in the digital age.
