Despite a long-term ban, the WhatsApp messenger unexpectedly worked on some devices in China for two weeks, causing confusion among users.
Messenger in China
Chinese Internet firewall
The Chinese government has introduced large-scale restrictions on access to foreign Internet platforms, including Signal and Instagram, unofficially called the “Great Firewall of China.” This initiative is designed to block foreign messaging services in the country.
Popularity of WhatsApp in China
Unlike the local social network WeChat, which has over a billion active users, WhatsApp is not in such high demand in China. According to rough estimates, only a few million people use the Meta messenger, connecting to virtual private networks. Messages on WhatsApp are encrypted, making them difficult for authorities to monitor.
Temporary access to WhatsApp
However, for more than two weeks, some residents of Beijing and Shanghai received free access to the messenger, Bloomberg reports. Interestingly, this came at the same time that Apple removed WhatsApp and other social media services, including Threads and Signal, from its Chinese app store, responding to Beijing's demand to close loopholes in its internet censorship system.
Glossary
- WeChat is the largest Chinese social network and instant messenger with more than a billion users.
- Meta is the parent company of Facebook, which also owns WhatsApp, Instagram and other popular services.
- Virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that allows you to bypass censorship and geographic restrictions on the Internet.
- Apple is an American corporation, manufacturer of iPhone smartphones, computers and software.
- Threads is a new social networking service from Meta, launched in 2023.
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What does the information provided say?
What is the role of WeChat in China compared to WhatsApp?
Why is the Chinese government seeking to control foreign messaging platforms?
Which cities are mentioned in the context of temporarily lifting the WhatsApp ban?
What happened to apps including WhatsApp in Apple's Chinese app store?
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Discussion of the topic – Banned WhatsApp suddenly started working in China without VPN or permission
WhatsApp strangely worked on some devices in China for two weeks, despite a long government ban on the messaging service. The event was a challenge to the widespread blocking of foreign internet platforms known as the Great Firewall of China.
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Анна
Interestingly, WhatsApp was temporarily unblocked in China. Could this be a diplomatic gesture or an experiment on the part of the authorities? 🤔
Михаил
It was hardly a diplomatic gesture. Most likely, there was some kind of technical glitch in the Great Firewall of China. The Chinese government controls the Internet quite tightly. 🕵️♂️
Елена
I think this may be due to Apple removing WhatsApp and other apps from the Chinese App Store. Perhaps the authorities decided to open temporary access to avoid user dissatisfaction. 🤷♀️
Григорий
Hmm, I've heard that some people in Beijing and Shanghai have been using WhatsApp to discuss protests against the COVID-19 "zero tolerance" policy. Maybe it was an attempt to control the situation? 🤨
Виктор
I don’t think that temporary access to WhatsApp is related to any political goals. This is just a small hole in the censorship system that will be closed quickly. Personally, I don't see anything interesting in this. 😒
Мария
And it seems to me that this could be the first step towards a gradual easing of Internet censorship in China. Perhaps the authorities realized that complete isolation from global information flows is impossible in the modern world. 🌐
Франц
I read that VPN services that allow you to bypass blocking are gaining popularity in China. Maybe temporary access to WhatsApp is a way to satisfy the growing demand for foreign instant messengers? 🤔💻
Евгения
I think we're all focusing too much on this temporary unlock. After all, WhatsApp is not as popular in China as WeChat. It was just a technical error that will be fixed quickly. 🤷♀️