Reports have emerged from China, stating that the encrypted messaging app, Signal, has gone offline. This move is part of Beijing’s strategy to keep social media platforms in check.
Signal users from China started reporting problems on Monday, stating that without a VPN, it was close to impossible to gain access to the app. However, it still remains unclear if Chinese regulators intend to ban the app permannently.
Signal gained popularity following WhatsApp’s controversial update to its terms of service, forcing users to switch to alternate platforms. In the initial weeks of January, messaging service Signal gained 7.5 million users globally. Following business magnate Elon Musk’s endorsement of the software, its popularity surged further.
