WhatsApp’s latest update lets you message even through internet shutdowns and outages
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WhatsApp users can now stay connected even during internet outages and outages thanks to a new update.
The messaging app has introduced a free proxy support directly within its platform for all users that can be used as an alternative method to send and receive messages when direct access to the app is blocked.
WhatsApp says the launch will help people living in countries like Iran “who are still being denied the ability to reach their loved ones due to internet shutdowns.”
WhatsApp proxy
Citizens living under restricted internet freedoms are used to turning to VPN services to get around blockages. However, this move by a major company like WhatsApp could set a precedent in the fight for a truly open web.
The provider, owned by Meta, is now urging anyone with the right skills to volunteer to set up new proxy servers and help people communicate freely.
We will continue to fight for your right to communicate freely and privately. Now, when connecting directly to WhatsApp isn’t possible, you can stay connected from anywhere in the world through a server set up by volunteers and organizations dedicated to helping others communicate freely.January 5, 2023
“WhatsApp exists to connect the world privately and we hope this solution helps users around the world when internet outages interfere with their ability to securely communicate with loved ones,” the company added.
“We’re putting the power in your hands,” WhatsApp tweeted in Persian as part of the introduction of the new feature, citing Iran’s continued crackdown on social media to silence dissidents as a key motivation behind the update.
Authorities have cut off access to popular platforms including WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook since September, when a wave of protests swept across the country following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Shutting down the internet has become a common practice in the hands of governments in times of protests, conflicts and even elections. From Myanmar, Russia and Kazakhstan: Last year there were more than 50 cases in 16 countries.
Such blackouts have major consequences for internet users. They undermine people’s civil liberties, while governments can hide human rights violations. They even exacerbate social inequalities that hinder people from accessing online services, costing the countries’ economies billions along the way.
A proxy server acts as a gateway between your device and the website or service you want to access.
This means that when you connect to a WhatsApp proxy, all requests to send and receive messages go through that server first, bypassing the “kill switch” enforced by the government to disrupt normal internet access.
WhatsApp ensures that using a proxy does not affect the usual level of security and privacy. End-to-end encryption still protects all user messages and calls.
“Our wish for 2023 is that these internet shutdowns never happen again. Disruptions like the ones we have seen in Iran for months now deny peoples human rights and cut people off from receiving urgent aid.
“While in the event that these shutdowns continue, we hope this solution helps people wherever there is a need for secure and reliable communications.”
Using WhatsApp proxy servers
WhatsApp recommends searching social media or search engines for reliable sources that have created a proxy. It also calls on those who set up such secure servers to share these addresses directly with people who have trouble accessing the app if possible.
To connect to one of the WhatsApp proxy servers, first make sure your device is running the latest version of the app. Then follow the steps below:
- Head on the Settings tab;
- click on Storage and datathen on Proxy;
- Tap on Use proxy and then Set up proxy;
- Enter the proxy address you want to connect to and click Save.
A green checkmark appears when the connection is successful. If you are still unable to send or receive messages, try using a different proxy as the selected proxy may be blocked.
These proxy addresses were set up by volunteers and organizations dedicated to helping people with limited internet freedom gain unrestricted access to the internet.
This means that anyone with the necessary skills can do their part in the fight against internet outages worldwide.
“To help people reconnect to WhatsApp, you can set up a proxy using a server with available ports 80, 443, or 5222 and a domain name (or subdomain) pointing to the server’s IP address,” wrote the provider in one blog post (opens in new tab).
More details on documentation and source code are available on GitHub (opens in new tab) for everyone to review.