Author: Kelechi E.
It’s no surprise that in today’s world, where people can freely express themselves on the internet, they are using the medium to draw the world’s attention to the unrest around them.Â
On the other hand, a repressive government might see this attention as a threat to its power. As a result, the first thing they might want to do is disable the internet or block access to a particular app.
However, that is not the only reason they could disrupt the web. It could be used to combat cybercrime or to prevent the spread of false information. Whatever the reason, internet censorship is a major issue because it violates free speech and empowers only one group of people.
To tackle this problem, Meta announced the addition of a new tool to its anti-censorship measures on WhatsApp.Â
Continue reading to learn more about this new WhatsApp tool.
What You Should Know About WhatsApp’s New Tool
WhatsApp’s new tool, “WhatsApp by Proxy,” allows people subject to internet censorship to access the app via proxy connections. As a result, communication between parties is possible even when the application is blocked or disrupted in their country. When you use a proxy, you can connect to WhatsApp via servers set up by organizations and volunteers worldwide.
Proxy servers act as a link between your computer and the rest of the internet. They also assist people in avoiding internet censorship by communicating with websites on their behalf. As a result, if your country restricts WhatsApp access and you can connect to a proxy server, your browser will connect to the proxy first, then forward your traffic to the website you’re visiting.
Furthermore, WhatsApp adds that end-to-end encryption will remain in place even if you connect to a proxy server, ensuring that no one can read your messages. The company also states that it is launching this feature due to ongoing internet disruptions in Iran, where the country has been shutting down the internet for several months due to a nationwide protest.
How To Connect to a WhatsApp Proxy
First and foremost, proxy servers are rendered ineffective during complete internet shutdowns. If WhatsApp is blocked in your country, you can connect to a WhatsApp proxy, which you can find on social media when the proxy servers are up and running.
Once you’ve found a proxy,
- Get its server address.
- Navigate to the Settings menu in the WhatsApp Android or iOS apps.
- Select Storage and Data.
- Enter the proxy information.
- To use this feature, you must use the most recent WhatsApp version.
WhatsApp also specifies that you must use ports 80, 443, or 5222 to set up a proxy server. You’ll also need a domain or subdomain pointing to the proxy server’s IP address.
Tools for tackling internet censorship
As more countries continue to experience internet censorship and shutdowns, several tools are now available to counter this issue. Some of them are as follows:
If you are experiencing internet censorship, you may need to use a combination of tools to regain access to the internet or an app. So investigate what tools will be helpful to you if your country experiences a shutdown.
Summary
WhatsApp announced a new feature called “WhatsApp by Proxy” on January 5 to help combat internet censorship. If a country blocks access to the app, people can still communicate with their friends and family through WhatsApp by Proxy (proxy servers) while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
