Uganda’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola has banned the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) as the ultimate solution to bypass paying the new daily excise duty charge on Over-The-Top (OTT) services. Wouldn’t such a headline be a shocker!
This is one of the memes that’s been doing rounds on social media hours after telecom companies implemented the new social media tax.
But can VPN be actually banned in the country?
Even in countries like China where VPN ban came into effect on March 31, 2018, the virtual private network providers are still claiming their users have access to their services in the country.
Some of the countries that have banned VPN include Berlarus, Iraq, North Korea and Turkmenistan, among others.
In Iran, Oman, Russia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, among others, VPN usage is controlled by government.
What’s a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is exactly what it sounds like.
It’s a way to add online privacy when you’re browsing the internet. Perhaps the most noteworthy benefit is that VPNs allow users to access websites that are otherwise blocked under their current IP address.
Essentially, the VPN allows you to change your IP address regardless of your actual location. Which further means that you can access the websites allowed under the IP address you choose rather than those under the IP address of your physical location.
Below are some of the memes on social media tax;
