WhatsApp on Thursday introduced the launch of proxy server help, meant to assist join individuals to WhatsApp in international locations the place entry is at present blocked — with Iran specifically getting a point out by WhatsApp head Will Cathcart.
What’s occurring
WhatsApp provides proxy help for individuals to entry the chat service in international locations the place it is blocked.
Why it issues
WhatsApp has over 2 billion energetic customers worldwide, and is a vital communication instrument in lots of international locations. Including proxy help permits a approach for customers to get round geographic restrictions in international locations that select to dam the service.
“Whereas many people celebrated [the new year] by texting our family members on WhatsApp, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals in Iran and elsewhere who proceed to be denied the correct to speak freely and privately,” Cathcart said on Twitter.
WhatsApp head Will Cathcart tweeted the announcement of proxy help Thursday.
Screenshot of Twitter
Iran blocked entry to Meta’s WhatsApp and Instagram in September following protests that erupted from the dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini whereas in police custody. A WhatsApp weblog submit explains that the brand new proxy characteristic will enable individuals who can’t immediately connect with the chat app to as an alternative connect with a server arrange by a volunteer or a company. Entry to those proxy servers may be offered on social media, serps or different personal means, and WhatsApp’s weblog submit hyperlinks to directions on how to connect with such servers utilizing the app’s settings menu.
Directions are additionally accessible for anybody hoping to arrange a WhatsApp proxy server for others to connect with the service by way of. WhatsApp’s submit says that messages despatched utilizing a proxy server preserve end-to-end encryption, which means texts shouldn’t be seen to the proxy server or to WhatsApp.
Whereas proxy servers had been already accessible to connect with by way of a telephone’s settings menu, the brand new characteristic ought to enable for individuals to set WhatsApp to connect with a selected server for the chat app. Different chat apps like Signal additionally provide proxy server help for those who want it to entry the texting service.
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