Signal, the widely-used encrypted messaging app, is facing significant blocks in Venezuela and Russia.
These restrictions appear to be part of broader efforts by both governments to suppress internal dissent and control communication channels.
In Venezuela, the blockage comes in the wake of a controversial presidential election that has sparked widespread protests. President Nicolás Maduro, whose victory is disputed, is reportedly tightening his grip on power. According to MSNBC, the United States has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the rightful winner.
On Thursday, internet monitoring service NetBlocks confirmed that Signal had become inaccessible across several major internet providers in the country. Additionally, Maduro has ordered blocks on other platforms, including X, as reported by The Associated Press.
We're aware of reports that access to Signal has been blocked in some countries. As a reminder, Signal's built-in censorship circumvention feature might be able to help if your connection is affected:
— Signal (@signalapp) August 9, 2024
Signal Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Censorship circumvention (on)
Meanwhile, in Russia, the country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has accused Signal of violating Russian laws, leading to the app being heavily restricted. Reuters reports that new Signal accounts cannot be registered without the use of a VPN. NetBlocks noted on Friday that Signal’s backend services have been restricted by most internet providers in Russia.
Signal acknowledged the reports of these blocks, advising affected users to enable its censorship circumvention feature, which has proven effective in keeping the app functional in Russia. The company has yet to provide an official comment on the situation.
In related news, Russia is also experiencing widespread issues with YouTube access. According to VOA News, users in the country reported mass outages, though YouTube clarified that these disruptions were not due to any technical problems on their end.
