Suppose you need to give a message to your friend, and unexpectedly your most preferred messaging application, Signal, is not functioning. Frustrating, right? This is something people in Venezuela and Russia are experiencing at the moment to the letter. Signal, which is known for its encryption and security measures, has been banned in both countries. But why?
Signal: What Is It and Why Is It So Popular?
First, let me give you a brief introduction about Signal. It is a messaging application that is popular because of its ability to keep your messages very safe. In a world where privacy seems to be difficult, Signal is that service with the shield covering your messages from others. From a funny meme to an intimate conversation, Signal makes certain that no one apart from the sender and the recipient will be able to read the text.
But it is not only about privacy. Signal is also a way for those who do not want their content to be censored by the government. Apps like Signal become crucial when the government decides to limit the free speech of its citizens and dictate what they should say or not say.
The Situation in Venezuela
Next, let’s focus on Venezuela. This country has been making headlines lately because of a rather tense political climate. Two weeks ago there was a presidential election and I do not think there is a need to explain how it ended. The election was held recently with President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power for years, declaring victory, although not everyone believes it. The opposition and many international observers think that Edmundo Gonzalez actually had more votes. This disagreement has led to protests and also, arrests.
It appears that in an effort to maintain control over the situation, the Venezuelan government has further restricted communication. As it was mentioned earlier, Signal has recently become “unreachable on multiple internet providers” in Venezuela. It is like trying to call while all the lines are out of service, something that Signal users within that country experience. And to them, it’s not just Signal. The government has also banned X (ex-Twitter), which has made it almost impossible for individuals to post and also share information with others.
The Russian Side
At the same time, Russia has a similar situation as well. Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator of the Russian Federation, has accused Signal of engaging in unlawful conduct in Russia. Consequently, Signal was banned on most of the Internet providers in the country. That’s because to register another Signal account in Russia or any other country where this service is blocked by the authorities, you will need a VPN – a tool that allows you to get around the restrictions in the same way as entering the concert through the back door.
But why is Russia performing such actions? It is in line with a campaign to slow the sharing of information and limit the uprising from within. Such actions of the government, like blocking apps like Signal, means it becomes difficult for people to organize protestors or get their news uncensored. And it’s not just Signal that has been put under pressure. Russian users have also said the same about their problems accessing YouTube.
What to Do if You Are A Victim?
Well, what can one do if for instance he/she is in one of the countries that have banned Signal? Signal has a neat trick that could definitely come in handy for you. It is known as the censorship circumvention feature. To switch it on, the instructions are Signal Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Censorship circumvention (on). It is also this very feature that has been assisting other users in Russia, so it is worth an attempt in case of failure.
