VPN usage in New Caledonia soars after French TikTok ban

TikTok is definitely one of the most controversial platforms lately. The short-form video platform is seeing an increase in scrutiny from parents and politicians in different countries around the world. The US recently gave TikTok an ultimatum to sell the app or face a ban in the US. France has joined the growing list of countries banning TikTok, leading to more people in New Caledonia seeking VPN services to bypass the restrictions.

France banned TikTok to quell protests that have risen in its South Pacific territory

Yesterday, May 15th, 2024, the French government declared a state of emergency and banned TikTok after several days of violent unrest in New Caledonia. New Caledonia is a French territory in the South Pacific with a population of over 200,000 people. TechRadar reports violent clashes in the region, causing at least four deaths and numerous injuries prior to the ban.

According to Politico, French lawmakers passed a law granting voting rights in local elections to residents of New Caledonia with over 10 years of residency. This move by the lawmakers did not sit right with some natives of New Caledonia. They felt that such a law would weaken the representation of the Kanak people, who are the indigenous people of New Caledonia. So, people took to the streets to protest the new law.

VPNs are helping people in New Caledonia bypass the TikTok ban

It seems that people in New Caledonia are using VPNs to bypass the restrictions set by the French government. Proton VPN reports a 150% surge in signups for its VPN services since the restrictions began. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows your network to mask its IP address. In many cases, VPN services can assist you in accessing content like Netflix series available in other regions. This is because your device can report its location as being in that specific region, even if it’s not physically located there.