VPN demand skyrockets in Bangladesh due to internet restrictions. Learn about the global impact of VPNs on internet censorship and privacy as Hackread continues to report on how governments are curbing citizens’ digital rights.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage is on the rise in different parts of the world as governments look to regulate the flow of information and silence voices of dissent.
According to vpnMentor, in Bangladesh, a 5016% increase in VPN demand was on July 22, 2024, which went down a bit on July 25 after the restoration of broadband internet. However, still, the demand was over 2500%.
The surge was triggered by the violent protests following a clash between two groups of students with opposing political views at a public university, which left dozens injured and at least five dead.
Despite police intervention, demonstrations continued, leading to a curfew and strict internet access controls to restrict communication among protesters and prevent further unrest. However, citizens turned to VPNs as an alternative means to access blocked content and communicate securely.
The Bangladeshi government is the latest to join the list of countries restricting VPN usage. Earlier in July 2024, Apple removed 25 VPN apps from the Russian App Store under pressure from the Russian government as the country looks to tighten its grip on internet censorship and limit internet freedom for its citizens. The removal of these VPN apps has increased privacy concerns for Russians forced to use VPNs due to the Kremlin’s intensified efforts to control internet access and regulate online content.
The Russian government also banned widely used platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube, which led to a staggering 167% increase in VPN usage in 2022. The government later launched a crackdown against VPN services. However, Russia’s efforts to block VPN websites are not reducing their popularity, as they attract over 400,000 new Russian subscribers daily, according to a recent analysis.
In March 2024, VPN demand in Spain surged by 330% a day before an opposition protest in Madrid, and by 150% two weeks later, following a court ruling temporarily banning Telegram in the country.
While the reasons for the surge in VPN use are different, the underlying issue is the same: the public’s desire for a free and open internet. VPNs are a tool that can help people to achieve this goal, which makes them the key targets of governments.
