Signal Down in China: Encrypted App Facing Issues

Signal Messaging App Blocked in Mainland China

Users of the Signal instant messaging application in China anticipated potential restrictions, and those concerns have materialized. As of March 16th, the application, known for its end-to-end encrypted conversations, became inaccessible within mainland China, as verified by testing conducted by TechCrunch.

Website Access Restricted

According to Greatfire.org, a website dedicated to monitoring internet censorship, Signal’s website was blocked in mainland China beginning on March 15th. This action precedes the app’s complete inaccessibility.

Attempts to obtain a statement from Signal regarding the situation were initially unsuccessful.

A Rare Western Platform

Signal had distinguished itself as one of the few Western social networks remaining accessible in China without requiring users to employ a virtual private network (VPN). Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have faced long-standing blocks.

Interestingly, being subjected to a ban can be viewed as a form of recognition, suggesting that a foreign application has achieved a significant user base within China, thereby attracting the attention of the authorities.

Availability on Apple’s App Store

As of March 16th, the Signal application remains available for download through Apple’s China App Store. This indicates that Apple has not yet received a directive from the government to remove the app. The app has garnered a high rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 37,000 reviews within the Chinese App Store.

Android Access Limited

In contrast, Android app stores in China, operated by various Chinese technology companies, generally adhere strictly to censorship regulations and do not currently list Signal. The Google Play Store is also unavailable within the country.

Download Statistics

App analytics firm Sensor Tower reported to TechCrunch on March 16th that the iOS version of Signal has been installed approximately 510,000 times in China to date. Globally, the app has surpassed 100 million downloads across both Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

Increased Demand Following WhatsApp Changes

Both Signal and its competitor, Telegram, experienced a surge in downloads following updates to WhatsApp’s privacy policy in January, which caused concern among users. While the impact within China was limited due to the dominance of Tencent’s WeChat, which boasts 1.1 billion monthly users, both Signal and Telegram saw modest increases in their Chinese user base.

Comparative Download Numbers

As of January, Telegram had accumulated around 2.7 million installs on China’s App Store, compared to 458,000 downloads for Signal and 9.5 million for WhatsApp. Similar to Signal, both Telegram and WhatsApp remain available on the China App Store, although access may necessitate the use of VPNs.

Circumventing Censorship

China’s sophisticated “Great Firewall” has led many internet users to become adept at bypassing censorship measures. App bans are often implemented in stages, as demonstrated by the case of Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse Example

Despite not being listed on the Chinese App Store, users discovered methods to install Clubhouse through foreign App Stores and utilized the platform without censorship-circumvention tools until its API was blocked. Even after the API block, Chinese users found they could still listen to audio streams by entering chat rooms via a VPN, as Clubhouse’s audio technology provider, Agora, remained accessible in China.

Temporary Restrictions are Common

Foreign applications and websites are sometimes blocked and then reinstated in China, as was the case with Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The permanence of the Signal ban remains uncertain, but considering the app’s growth trajectory, it may signify the end of its availability in China.

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