Encrypted Messaging App Signal Stops Working in China

signal iconEncrypted messaging app Signal appears to have been banned in China, reports TechCrunch. While the app remains available in the App Store, the service is no longer operational in mainland China, according to the censorship tracking website Greatfire.org.

Western-run social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have been unavailable in the country for some time, but Signal has largely flown under the radar of China's authorities until now. Signal has yet to comment on the issue.

It's unclear what has caused the country's government to act and whether the ban is permanent, however Signal and rival service Telegram have both recently experienced a significant uptick in users following WhatsApp's bungled PR campaign explaining its upcoming privacy policy update.

Like Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp are still listed on the China ‌App Store‌, although access to the services requires the use of VPNs – another category of apps that local authorities have cracked down on in recent years.

VPNs circumvent China's "Great Firewall" by routing and encrypting internet traffic to servers outside of the country, making them popular with privacy-conscious users who have limited access to online content because of government restrictions.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: China, Signal

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Top Rated Comments

vicviper789 Avatar
57 months ago
Don’t worry, Tim Cook will personally take Signal off just for them!
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
piattj Avatar
57 months ago
Blimey! Who'd have thought? SO out of character
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TehFalcon Avatar
57 months ago

The end of dictatorships would be good, but has to be home grown movements. Regards to communism, when that does come it'll be lovely. China is not communist; communism doesn't support billionaires, a middle class that is larger than the population of the USA, private business, and dictatorships.

If China where communist then their entire population would be equally wealthy with no prospect for areas of extreme poverty and extreme wealth.

China is more akin to the USA, except in the USA they can vote in a different dictator every four years from a choice of two.
China is 100% communist and the only billionaires are the ones supported by the government, typical. Literally the opposite of the USA.

The US also doesn't have a "dictator", comparing any US President to a dictator shows a huge ignorance on history and the current Chinese government.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve121178 Avatar
57 months ago

Word of mouth has always been the greatest and most reliable promoter of good businesses and we don’t get spyware crap from word of mouth.
Yes, because humans are incapable of being dishonest & telling lies. Oh wait...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NMBob Avatar
57 months ago
Gee, sounds almost like the US. Don’t like something? Shut it down.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
souko Avatar
57 months ago
This is crazy. Communist dictatorship should end soon.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)