WhatsApp provides
message encryption technology that likely does not please Chinese
authorities, which closely monitor and restrict cyberspace through their
"Great Firewall".
Many Chinese activists favour WhatsApp over local messaging apps because of its end-to-end encryption function.
Many Chinese activists favour WhatsApp over local messaging apps because of its end-to-end encryption function.
Although Mark met with chinese officials in beijing , it seems the meetings had to effect so to say,
The WhatsApp troubles
emerged ahead of the Communist Party congress on October 18, when
President Xi Jinping is expected to be given a second five-year term as
the party's general secretary.
"It smells like Party congress pre-emptive blocking," said
Jason Ng, who researches China's internet at the Citizen Lab at the
University of Toronto. China usually steps up surveillance around major events, Ng said.
While the WeChat messaging app owned by China's Tencent company is more widely used in the country, many WhatsApp users complained about the disruptions.
"As we get closer to the Party congress, I think authorities will use more extreme censorship measures. The public knows that WeChat isn't safe," prominent Beijing-based activist Hu Jia told AFP.
While the WeChat messaging app owned by China's Tencent company is more widely used in the country, many WhatsApp users complained about the disruptions.
"As we get closer to the Party congress, I think authorities will use more extreme censorship measures. The public knows that WeChat isn't safe," prominent Beijing-based activist Hu Jia told AFP.