The use of VPN services has skyrocketed in Turkey as authorities restricted access to Twitter on Wednesday. This comes just two days after a devastating earthquake that killed more than 15,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
One of the best Turkish VPNs on the market, Proton VPN has seen a significant increase in usage from the country. Peak hourly records rose 30,000% above normal levels, eclipsing those from the rest of the world.
While no official explanation has been given, online watchdog NetBlocks believes the Twitter ban was to prevent misinformation around the disaster before spreading over the internet.
It seems that the service has been restored. Even so, Proton usage is ten times higher than the regular Turkish baseline.
What’s going on in Turkey?
First NetBlocks reported the ban on Wednesday, after noticing that a Twitter blocking filter had been applied to all major Turkish ISPs.
Such a lockdown came just as citizens relied most on such a service to stay abreast of the aftermath of the deadly earthquakes that had shaken the peninsula just about 48 hours earlier. To make matters worse, the disaster had already affected the Internet infrastructure.
“The measure is different from the effects of recent earthquakes and can be circumvented with a VPN service,” explained NetBlocks in tweet (opens in a new tab).
Well, people in Turkey have certainly heeded this advice. Proton VPN only recorded the peak over 30,000% more hourly records than usual. At the time of writing, VPN usage is still ten times higher even though the Twitter ban has been lifted.
However, this situation is not surprising.
As shutting down the internet has become a common practice among governments seeking to silence critics or disrupt the normal flow of news, users are learning to suppress it.
“Maintaining access to a free, uncensored internet is essential,” said Andy Yen, founder and CEO of Proton.
“This is especially true in times of crisis when people rely on online platforms to share information with friends, loved ones and the wider community.”
Yen said the latest numbers are actually in line with those recorded during the first days of Iran’s protests.
That’s because a VPN spoofs users’ real location by redirecting traffic through one of its many international servers. This means people inside and outside Turkey can look like they’re browsing from a completely different place in a matter of seconds, allowing them to defeat any on-site censorship.
Moreover, as part of its humanitarian mission, Proton offers unlimited free VPN for everyone to enjoy online freedom.
“Proton VPN is committed to protecting the free access to information for everyone, no matter who or where they are,” said Yen.
