Whatsapp Can Be Accessed By Proxy in Countries that Block Its Services

JAKARTA – Meta Platforms Inc. subsidiary WhatsApp announced on Thursday, December 5 that users of the messaging app will now be able to use proxy servers to access services in countries where the app is blocked.

Proxy servers are intermediaries between users and web services and act as web filters allowing netizens to circumvent restrictions and censorship.

WhatsApp says proxy support on the app is now officially available for users with the latest version.

Users in countries such as Iran and Syria have used virtual private network (VPN) services to navigate around internet censorship.

As quoted by Reuters, Whatsapp said, "if this shutdown continues, we hope this solution helps people everywhere there is a need for safe and reliable communication."

WhatsApp "will do everything" within its technical capacity to keep the service accessible and not block Iranian phone numbers, the messaging service said in September.

Iran itself has restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp from Meta after riots broke out in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the morality police in Tehran for "inappropriate dress".