{"id":9363,"date":"2017-09-25T20:42:58","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T20:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsoftsolution.com\/blog\/whatsapp-blocked-in-china-though-past-bans-proved-temporary.html"},"modified":"2017-09-25T20:42:58","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T20:42:58","slug":"whatsapp-blocked-in-china-though-past-bans-proved-temporary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbsitsoftwaresolution.in\/blog\/whatsapp-blocked-in-china-though-past-bans-proved-temporary.html","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp blocked in China, though past bans proved temporary"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

WhatsApp has been widely blocked in mainland China by the country\u2019s government, with text messaging as well as photo and video sharing not currently functional. However, WhatsApp had previously been blocked in the country and seen those blocks lifted within a few days, so it\u2019s unclear how long the chat app may remain inaccessible.<\/p>\n

The New York Times<\/a> reported today that WhatsApp had been \u201cbroadly disrupted in China\u201d. TechCrunch has received reports that while many users lost access beginning Sunday night, some in mainland China can still send and receive WhatsApp messages. WhatsApp declined to comment on the blockage.<\/p>\n

WhatsApp\u2019s ability to send videos, photos, and files was blocked in China in July, but allowed again a few weeks later.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that the shut down is in anticipation of the Communist Party\u2019s congress to be held in Beijing next month. WhatsApp may have been targeted because of its strong encryption features lacked by services like Skype and Apple\u2019s FaceTime that are allowed to operate in China. Encrypted messaging could be used by political dissidents organizing against the government.<\/p>\n

If the ban is lifted, it could serve as a show of power by the Chinese government, and might dissaude users seeking to rely on an encrypted messaging service in the country. But if the ban is left in place, it could disrupt businesses that rely on WhatsApp to communicate with customers. It would also be a big step back for parent company Facebook\u2019s relations with China.<\/p>\n

Facebook has long been banned in mainland China, like other foreign social media broadcasting services. But Facebook was discovered to have built a Chinese version of its private photo sharing app Moments in China called Colorful Balloons and distributed it under the inconspicuous company name Youge Internet Technology. It\u2019s unclear whether the Chinese government was aware that Facebook was behind the app prior to the New York Time\u2019s expose<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Facebook reportedly built a censorship tool<\/a>\u00a0last year that could be applied to its main social network, which could appeal to Chinese regulators who currently maintain a ban on Facebook in the country. But the Colorful Balloons situation, the July partial ban of WhatsApp, and today\u2019s blockage could signal that Facebook\u2019s relationship with China is fraying rather than strengthening.<\/p>\n

As Facebook hits use growth saturation in many parts of the world, China remains an untapped opportunity for growth. The company has long-held that partial access to its services, even with censorship, is better than no access since it can connect people to loved ones and knowledge that can help them improve their lot in life.\u00a0But working with censors and a government known for hostility towards human rights activists could force Facebook to contradict some of its values or leave dissidents vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Given Facebook\u2019s tricky situation at home in the US as it deals with fake news and election interference initiated by Russian operatives, it may not have the bandwidth to focus on furthering relations with China.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Featured Image: China Photos \/ Stringer<\/a>\/Getty Images<\/small><\/p>\n

Article source: http:\/\/feedproxy.google.com\/~r\/techcrunch\/social\/~3\/c_IM4PEwy8M\/<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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