Is it legal to use VPNs in Karnataka?

In Karnataka, as in the rest of India, the use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) is generally legal. VPNs are widely used for various legitimate purposes, such as enhancing online privacy, securing internet connections, and accessing geographically restricted content. However, the legality of VPN usage hinges on the nature of the activities conducted using the VPN. While using a VPN for lawful activities is permitted, employing a VPN to commit illegal acts, such as accessing banned content, engaging in cybercrimes, or evading lawful surveillance and censorship, is illegal.

Trivia: India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued guidelines in 2017 that indirectly affect VPN users by mandating that cybercafe owners maintain logs of user activity. While this does not directly restrict VPN usage, it underscores the government’s intent to monitor and regulate internet access and usage.