Virtual watchdog: Internet users banned fro m browsing privately for ‘security reasons’

http://tribune.com.pk/story/240736/virtual-watchdog-internet-users-banned-from-browsing-privately-for-security-reasons/

By Nadir Hassan
The Express Tribune
August 28, 2011

KARACHI: In an effort to ramp up the monitoring of internet security, 
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed all ISPs to 
prevent internet users from using technology that would allow them to 
privately browse the internet. This was stated in a PTA notice provided 
to The Express Tribune by a source at an Islamabad-based internet 
service provider (ISP).

The notice states, ‘In line with [Monitoring & Reconciliation of 
International Telephone Traffic] Regulations 2010 and national security, 
Authority prohibited usage of all such mechanisms including encrypted 
virtual private networks (EVPNs) which conceal communication to the 
extent that prohibits monitoring.’ The notice further stated, ‘It is 
observed that the aforementioned directive has not been followed in true 
letter and spirit as EVPNs are heavily being used on the Licensees 
Network.’

A PTA spokesman said that the directive was intended only to stop 
militants from using secure internet connections to communicate with 
each other, but admitted that this could only be done by preventing all 
internet users in Pakistan from using VPNs. A VPN allows two or more 
users to share data without letting anyone else monitor it.

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