Afghans are flocking to VPNs like never before, with usage skyrocketing by a staggering 35,000% since last Tuesday, October 7. The sudden spike comes in response to the Taliban’s restrictions on social media platforms.
Proton VPN, a popular free VPN service, has witnessed this unprecedented surge, with usage soaring far above its baseline. According to Top10VPN, VPN demand in Afghanistan has surged by a whopping 574% compared to the daily average over the past 28 days.
The Taliban government has confirmed the restrictions, although they’ve been tight-lipped about the specifics. A source told the BBC that the filtering is extensive, covering “almost the whole country, and most provinces.”
NetBlocks, an internet watchdog, reports that access to popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Snapchat is completely blocked on multiple providers across Afghanistan. They’ve also recorded regional internet shutdowns in Kandahar.
This isn’t the first time Afghanistan has faced internet restrictions. Just a week ago, the Taliban government imposed a 48-hour nationwide internet and telephone blackout, supposedly to “prevent immorality.” Even VPNs couldn’t help citizens stay connected during that time.
How a VPN Can Help
A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. This allows you to bypass restrictions by connecting to a server outside of Afghanistan, fooling your local internet service provider into granting access to censored sites.
Proton VPN has seen similar spikes in usage this year due to government-imposed restrictions, with incidents linked to political turmoil and child safety concerns. For instance, a 5-day social media ban in Nepal led to an 8,000% spike in VPN sign-ups in September.
While Proton VPN Free is a secure option, consider checking out our guide to the best cheap VPNs if you’re looking for premium protection at a lower cost.
