VPN Usage Banned in Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda District for Two Months

• VPN use is banned in Doda district for 2 months, citing security concerns.
• Only government-approved VPNs are allowed; ISPs and users must comply.
• Hate speech, live coverage of sensitive events, and public gatherings are restricted.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district have imposed a two-month ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), citing concerns around cybersecurity, digital governance, and public safety. The order, issued by Doda District Magistrate Harvinder Singh, comes amid reports that VPNs were being used to bypass cyber restrictions and access prohibited content.

The official directive states that some people and organizations were discovered abusing VPNs to access restricted digital platforms, apps, and websites. According to the administration, this might endanger national security. As a result, the use of VPNs, unless explicitly approved by the government, is now strictly prohibited across the district.

“This order shall apply to all individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in the district,” an official spokesperson said. The Doda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has been instructed to enforce the ban strictly.

The legal basis for this restriction falls under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which grants district authorities the power to issue such prohibitory orders in the interest of public order.

Doda Additional District Magistrate Anil Kumar Thakur also issued a separate order imposing strict restrictions on hate speech and provocative content. The order prohibits individuals, digital platforms, and representatives of any community or organization from publishing or sharing hate speech, inflammatory remarks, or content that could incite violence, either in public or on social media.

The directive also bans real-time coverage or live streaming of any activity that might disturb communal harmony or spread misinformation. Additionally, public gatherings like rallies or processions will now require prior official permission.

Both orders will remain in effect for two months unless withdrawn earlier.