Signals from Venezuela and Russia are blocked. The app is a popular choice for encrypted messaging and people trying to avoid government censorship, and the blocks appear to be part of a crackdown on dissent within both countries.
In Venezuela, disputed results from last month’s presidential election led to a blockade and President Nicolás Maduro’s continued hold on power led to protests and arrests, MSNBC reported. (The United States has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of the election.) Internet monitoring service NetBlocks said late Thursday that “multiple Internet providers are unable to access Signal” in the country. Maduro also ordered the blockade of X, Associated Press Report.
Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor reportedly said Signal violated Russian law interfax. Russians also cannot register new Signal accounts without using a VPN, Reuters Report. NetBlocks said that as of Friday afternoon, Russia had “restricted the Signal messaging application backend for most Internet providers.”
“We are aware of reports that access to Signal has been blocked in certain countries,” Signal said. If you are affected by the block, the company recommends turning on its censorship circumvention feature. (NetBlocks reports that this feature allows Signal to “remain available” in Russia.) Signal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Russian users also reported large-scale YouTube outages in the country, according to Voice of America News. “We are aware of reports that some people are unable to access YouTube in Russia,” YouTube spokesperson Ciaran Ward said. edge. “This is not a result of any technical issues on our end or actions taken by us.”
