WhatsApp, the popular messaging app with over 2 billion users, has announced the launch of proxy support for users worldwide. This new feature allows users to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world, in the event that their connection to the app is blocked or disrupted.
The use of a proxy maintains the high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp is known for, with end-to-end encryption protecting personal messages and ensuring that they remain visible only to the sender and recipient.
This announcement comes in response to internet shutdowns that have occurred in various parts of the world, disrupting people’s ability to communicate with each other and access important information. These shutdowns have been criticized for denying people’s human rights and cutting them off from receiving urgent help.
WhatsApp hopes that this new proxy feature will help people maintain access to the app and continue to communicate securely in the event of future internet disruptions. The option is now available in the settings menu for all users running the latest version of the app, and more information on how to use it can be found in the app’s support section.
More information about how to use this feature is here.