Russia Blocks Signal App Citing Violation Of Laws

Russia has recently implemented further restrictions on online freedom by blocking the Signal app. Users have reported difficulties accessing the application, confirming the ban.

Russia Blocks Signal App – Users Express Concerns

Recent reports indicate that Russia has prohibited its citizens from using the privacy-focused communication app Signal, citing legal violations.

The Russian state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has officially confirmed the ban on the Signal app, stating that it violates anti-terrorism regulations. In a statement to the Interfax news agency, Roskomnadzor mentioned:

User access to the messenger Signal is restricted due to violations of Russian legislation, which is necessary to prevent the use of the messenger for terrorist and extremist purposes.

Although the specific details of the violation are not disclosed, Russia is known for its strict surveillance measures on its citizens. Signal’s strong end-to-end encryption and privacy policies make it a secure communication platform globally, surpassing even WhatsApp. This high level of privacy protection often conflicts with authoritarian regimes, leading to bans like this one in Russia.

Reports of Signal being inaccessible in Russia without a VPN surfaced online, confirming the ban. In response, Signal reassured users through its official X account that they are working on overcoming these restrictions.

We are developing advanced censorship circumvention techniques, but cooperation from major companies is crucial to address this issue effectively.

Signal also advised users to enable the “Censorship circumvention” feature in their apps to regain access to the service.

If your connection is affected, Signal’s built-in censorship circumvention feature can help: Signal Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Censorship circumvention (on)

For more detailed instructions on setting up a proxy to bypass censorship, users can refer to Signal’s blog post. This feature disguises Signal traffic as regular traffic, enhancing security by avoiding detection of proxy usage. Signal Proxy is available on Android and iOS clients, ensuring all mobile users can protect their communications.

This ban on Signal is not Russia’s first restrictive action. The country has previously blocked various services like VyprVPN and OperaVPN to maintain control over citizens’ communications.

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