India Bans VPNs in Kashmir, Cites 'National Security' (From Occupied Territory)
Al Jazeera quietly noted India’s two-month VPN ban in Kashmir, citing 'national security' concerns. This isn't India's first rodeo; 2019 saw a complete internet shutdown for over 18 months following the unilateral revocation of Article 370, stripping Kashmir of its special status. (The longest internet blackouts in the 'world's largest democracy' seem to coincide with its least democratic acts.)
When a government has to shut down communication channels and ban tools designed for privacy, it's rarely about actual security and always about controlling the narrative and suppressing dissent. The 'psychological pressure' residents feel isn't an accidental side effect; it’s a feature of control designed to prevent internal organization and external attention. One might wonder if 'national
security' is just another phrase for 'keeping the occupation quiet.'