VPNs remain legal to use in Cameroon, though the country has a troubling history of internet restrictions and censorship. The Cameroonian government has not enacted laws banning VPN usage (1), and citizens can legally use VPNs for privacy protection and accessing blocked content. However, internet freedom in the country faces significant challenges, with Freedom House classifying Cameroon as "Not Free" with a score of only 22 out of 100 in 2018 (1).
The government has repeatedly restricted internet access, particularly in the Anglophone regions, to suppress dissent and limit political opposition. In 2017, internet access was completely shut down for 93 days in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions following demonstrations (1). These shutdowns aimed to inhibit online discussion of protests against political marginalization. The government has also periodically blocked or slowed access to social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp to prevent opposition forces from mobilizing (1).
"Internet access in the Anglophone regions was completely shut down for a total of 93 days between January and April of 2017 after several days of demonstrations in Bamenda."
Despite government surveillance and periodic internet shutdowns, using a VPN in Cameroon is not prohibited by law. Human Rights Watch documented how authorities cracked down on political opposition and curtailed freedom of expression, association, and assembly throughout 2019 (2). VPNs provide citizens with an important tool to bypass censorship, protect their privacy from government surveillance, and maintain access to information during shutdowns. As long as VPNs are not used to commit illegal activities, Cameroonians can legally use them to safeguard their digital rights.
Source:
https://freedomhouse.org/country/cameroon/freedom-world/2018
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/cameroon
Last updated: 09-01-2026 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
