(Bloomberg) — In an unexpected turn of events, WhatsApp has been functioning freely and consistently for certain users in China, despite the country’s longstanding ban on the messaging service. This development is unprecedented given the rigorous internet controls implemented by the Chinese government. Users in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, who typically rely on virtual private networks to access WhatsApp, have reportedly been sending and receiving messages without these tools. Other social media platforms such as Signal and Instagram continue to be restricted, as part of a broader crackdown on foreign internet services known as the “Great Firewall.” The number of individuals utilizing WhatsApp in China is relatively small compared to the user base of Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s WeChat, which boasts over a billion active users. Meta representatives declined to comment, and the Cyberspace Administration of China did not respond to requests for clarification. It remains uncertain whether this phenomenon will spread beyond the initial group of users.
This development comes after Apple Inc. removed WhatsApp and other social media services from its Chinese app store in response to directives from Chinese authorities to tighten restrictions on online communication channels. While similar instances of brief accessibility have occurred previously, lasting periods of over two weeks are uncommon.
Since early 2021, China has prohibited the usage of foreign messaging and social media applications like WhatsApp, allegedly to prevent the dissemination of politically subversive information and preserve the party’s grip on content. Popular Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo have dominated the market due to the restrictions imposed by the government, although many Chinese citizens still utilize VPNs to browse western news outlets. Encrypted messaging services like WhatsApp are challenging to monitor, as messages are end-to-end encrypted.
Some users in China’s two largest metropolises claimed that the uninterrupted usage of WhatsApp started roughly around the same moment when Apple deleted WhatsApp, Threads, and Signal from its Chinese application store, following orders from the authorities to close further loop gaps in the country’s internet barrier.
– With contributions from Kurt Wagner and Yanping Li.
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