Latest news with #SimonMigliano
Mint
20-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
From privacy needs to internet bans: What's spurring the growth of VPN services?
In a report released this month, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—the global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing—raised concerns about how virtual private networks (VPNs) are being misused to facilitate terror financing and evade surveillance. A VPN is a way to access the internet without revealing your IP address or leaving behind a browsing history, while encrypting your data, and sidestepping website blocks and firewalls. VPNs are widely used—for business and personal reasons, with intentions noble and ill. On the one hand, VPNs serve as vital tools for individuals in countries with strict internet censorship, enabling access to restricted content. On the other hand, they can be exploited for nefarious purposes. The FATF cited the 2022 attack on security personnel at the Gorakhnath Temple in Uttar Pradesh as a case in point: the lone assailant reportedly used a VPN to transfer funds between Indian and foreign bank accounts and to conceal his digital communications. His purchase of the VPN service later became a crucial investigative lead. Approximately 31% (or 1.75 billion) of the world's internet users utilise VPNs, with India, China, and Indonesia leading the way. A bulk of them use free VPNs, which may not offer true anonymity. There is an active market for paid VPN services. In 2022, it generated revenues of approximately $31.6 billion and is projected to grow to around $125 billion by 2032—a compound annual growth rate of 14.7%. A survey of US adults shows that nearly half used a VPN in 2023. Furthermore, between 2021 and 2023, a larger proportion of users utilised VPNs on their personal devices. Protecting privacy Much of VPN usage on personal devices is driven by a desire for privacy. But VPNs are also used creatively—for instance, a Netflix subscriber in India can connect to a US server via a VPN to access the American Netflix library. While entertainment is one motivation, privacy remains the stronger driver. A 2020 survey by Top10VPN, a research firm focused on VPN services, found that users are more concerned about safeguarding their digital footprints than entertainment. For example, half of the top 10 ranked VPN apps in the Taiwan App Store had links to mainland China. Simon Migliano, head of research at says: 'While internet shutdowns and censorship have been the catalyst for recent surges in VPN use in authoritarian countries, more democratic nations have seen a sharp increase in VPN adoption for a multitude of different reasons…approach to privacy stem from a more general worry, rather than from an understanding of data collection practices across online industries." Covid spike In terms of protecting their privacy, internet users have four options: delete cookies, use a private browsing window, VPN, and ad-blockers. In the same Top10VPN survey in 42 countries, only 16% of survey respondents had used all four options. Further, about one-fourth said they used no privacy tools. The survey said: 'While a need for privacy dictates VPN adoption, the tools themselves escape the same scrutiny. Users look at speed and quality of connection when shopping for VPNs before they look at privacy policies." Google Trends data from India backs this up. Interest in VPNs surged during the two pandemic-induced lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, when remote work became the norm. The peak came in May 2021, during the country's second major lockdown—marking the highest search interest for VPNs in the past decade. Internet shutdowns Between January 2020 and May 2025, India witnessed nine sharp spikes in Google search interest for VPN services. Five of these coincided with the covid-19 lockdowns. The remaining four surges occurred in the context of socio-political unrest—three of them directly linked to internet shutdowns. In March 2020, search interest jumped in Jammu & Kashmir when some restrictions on internet access were temporarily eased following a prolonged curfew that began after a change in the region's political status in August 2019. On 4 March 2020, some curbs were temporarily lifted, and interest in VPNs shot up. Two other significant upticks occurred in Manipur and Meghalaya during periods when mobile internet services were suspended, triggering a rush toward VPNs to bypass the shutdowns. The most recent spike came in May 2025, following a terror attack in Pahalgam. In response, India imposed a blanket ban on all Pakistan-origin content on streaming platforms. The move drove many users to VPNs as a workaround. In a world turning right in political ideology, seeing an increase in armed conflict, and grappling with technology on an unprecedented scale, expect VPNs to thrive. is a database and search engine for public data
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Tom's Guide
Demand for VPNs in Iran increases by 700% as internet restrictions hit the country
VPN usage in Iran has soared following the country's imposition of internet restrictions. Demand for the best VPNs began to increase on Friday, June 13, as missile strikes from Israel hit the country. IranWire reported that the Communications Ministry approved the "temporary restrictions," and Iran's prosecutor general supposedly threatened social media users with legal action for posting disruptive content. Iran has a long history of internet censorship and VPNs are largely banned in the country. Monitoring by recorded VPN demand peaking at 707% over the baseline, compared to the daily average over the previous 28 days. Usage rose to 425% on June 13, when restrictions were first implemented, and then 530% the next day. It hit 707% on June 15 and then dropped slightly to 623% on June 16. This is the latest available data but restrictions are still ongoing and expects this figure to rise. says it analyzes a country's daily VPN search volume. It compares this to the average daily search volume for the previous days and weeks to identify spikes in demand. A tweet by NetBlocks on June 18 said that Iran was "in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout." This came after partial disruptions throughout the week. ⚠️ Confirmed: Live network data show #Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout; the incident follows a series of earlier partial disruptions and comes amid escalating military tensions with Israel after days of back-and-forth missile strikes 📉 18, 2025 Authorities have cited Israel's use of the internet for military purposes as the reason for the shutdown. The actions of Iran's government will continue to impact Iranians at a time when access to the internet, communications, and information is crucial. Many Iranians are now turning to VPNs to access the internet, despite the tools being banned in the country. A Reddit user reported that on the night of June 18, Iran restricted all foreign internet sites. Only government and Iranian sites were reportedly able to be accessed. Simon Migliano, Head of Research at commented on the ongoing restrictions in Iran. "Amid this period of intense turmoil, the Iranian government's choice to tighten internet controls only deepens the hardship its citizens are already facing," he said. "Cutting off access to vital digital lifelines, while people are worried about their homes, their safety, and their families, is not just repressive, it's profoundly inhumane." "It's entirely understandable that we're seeing such a massive surge in demand for VPNs inside Iran, as much as eight times above average." "For Iranians, unrestricted access to information is essential right now." We're seeing such a massive surge in demand for VPNs inside Iran "Whether it's communicating with loved ones, following rapidly-evolving events, or seeking help, tools like messaging apps, international news outlets, and social media are more than just conveniences, they're necessities." "So while the Iranian authorities may well succeed in blocking significant volumes of VPN traffic, they won't be able to block it all." "They may be forced to constantly rotate through multiple VPNs, but the most determined citizens will be able to bypass the restrictions and get online." Internet censorship in Iran isn't a new phenomenon, with the country having a long history of online blocking. Surfshark monitors internet restrictions through its Internet Shutdown Tracker. It has recorded at least 57 cases of past internet disruption in Iran, with an average duration of 284 days. Social media has been disrupted at least 7 times in the past, at an average of 2,307 days – Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Telegram are all currently being restricted according to Surfshark's tracker. Despite their ban, and Iran having some of the world's strictest VPN laws, a December 2024 survey found that 80% of Iranians use a VPN. Approximately 49% said they used free VPNs and 30% used a paid VPN service. For effective firewall and censorship bypassing, we'd recommend one of the best Iran VPNs. But not every Iranian will be able to access a paid VPN service. If this is the case, then the best free VPNs will be a lifeline. They don't have as many features as premium services, but they will protect your data with the highest levels of encryption and ensure you can access a free and open internet. Proton VPN Free is one of those VPNs, and Proton VPN is dedicated to fighting internet repression. It has a host of anti-censorship features and users can even access Proton VPN Free without creating an account. Many leading VPNs also offer free emergency VPNs to those in need – such as journalists, activists, or those living under authoritarian governments. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
