{
  "id": 10701899,
  "title": "Proton VPN usage in the Philippines remains high despite the Discord ban being reversed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/proton-vpn-usage-in-the-philippines-remains-high-despite-the-discord",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-29T13:29:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-services/proton-vpn-usage-in-the-philippines-remains-high-despite-the-discord-ban-being-reversed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Proton VPN user numbers surged in the Philippines following a brief block on Discord, despite the ban being reversed. The restriction impacted approximately 15,000 freelancers, disrupting their remote work livelihoods. When the government suddenly blocked access to Discord last week, millions of users, including gamers and remote workers, found themselves cut off from their digital communities and financial resources. In response, Proton VPN experienced a staggering 1,400% increase in hourly sign-ups from the Philippines, and a near 300% rise in daily sign-ups as citizens sought VPN solutions to bypass the restriction. Although the ban has been lifted, Proton VPN usage remains notably higher than usual, suggesting that users are hesitant to abandon their newly installed virtual private networks. The privacy-focused VPN provider, based in Switzerland, offers robust speeds, advanced anti-censorship features, and a vast server network spanning 145 countries, including those in Africa and Asia. Although its free plan has limitations, upgrading to a premium subscription costs only $2.99 per month. The prolonged technical rollout and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ban reversal have contributed to sustained high usage. Additionally, concerns over Discord's ID scanning policy in the Philippines may further discourage users from returning to the platform.",
  "summary": "Proton VPN usage in the Philippines skyrocketed by 1,400% following a sudden government block on Discord. Even after the ban was reversed, a fragmented network rollout means Filipinos are keeping their VPNs switched on to protect their livelihoods.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PC Gamer",
        "title": "Discord's new resource-light 'Game Mode' doesn't mention anything about reducing memory usage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/discords-new-resource-light-game-mode-doesnt-mention-anything-about",
        "published": "2026-09-29T15:57:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}