Similarly, Russia hopes to goad its citizens to jump on board the "TamTam" train - again, an app run by so-called "Putin cronies. Governments know how much people like using digital platforms, so they decided to often their own, which also happens to make surveillance a whole lot easier. Iran created a Telegram alternative called " Soroush," which is run by security forces (shocking, I know). There's always the tried-and-true method of just protesting anyway: when Egyptian forces unplugged the entire nation from the internet during the Arab Spring, protesters came flooding into the streets instead. Or, if you want to keep using the same ones, users just have to make a simple change to Telegram's proxy settings, or use a conventional VPN. It's laughably easy to circumvent these bans in most cases - you can use another app. But here's the thing: it almost never works as intended. So, yes, shutting down messaging apps is a great way for repressive regimes to look like they're silencing dissidents. Encryption has become a lot more robust, offering users (near) private channels of communication. Arab Spring demonstrators commonly used social media and messaging apps.īut that was over seven years ago, and the internet has changed since then. Plus, people need a platform to connect to others while they're organizing a revolution. The messaging app has been used to gather protestors in violent stand-offs with the government. And while a bit, er, disingenuous, their worries aren't entirely unwarranted. To the Russian and Iran's governments, Telegram is spreading misinformation, hate, and a call for violence.
It did what it was meant to, but also inadvertently knocked out Amazon Web Server (AWS) service for millions of sites. Other governments around the world have endeavored to shut down platforms that block information from government agencies' prying eyes. Sounds pretty dire, doesn't it? But the reality isn't quite so bad. In fact, it usually just makes protesters dig their heels in deeper.Īfter protestors in Iran began using Telegram - a popular messaging app that provides server-client encryption, and optional end-to-end encryption to its users - the regime decided to shut it down altogether (it's still accessible to most Iranians as of Monday, the Wall Street Journal reports). Thousands of Iranians access the news and message others through the app, all without going through the government's filters first.īy blocking the app, the government is effectively curtailing citizens' freedom to access unbiased and uncensored information, not to mention limiting their freedom of speech. But it never really works the way governments intend it to.
Shutting down those digital platforms where dissidents connect is one more tool at governments' disposal. People living under repressive regimes all over the world organize protests via social media and private messaging apps.
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