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| China disrupts WhatsApp ahead of Communist Party meeting | China disrupts WhatsApp ahead of Communist Party meeting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The messaging service WhatsApp has been disrupted in China as the government steps up security ahead of a Communist Party meeting next month. | The messaging service WhatsApp has been disrupted in China as the government steps up security ahead of a Communist Party meeting next month. |
| Users have faced problems with the app for more than a week with services dropping in and out. | Users have faced problems with the app for more than a week with services dropping in and out. |
| At times, it has been completely blocked and only accessible via virtual private networks which circumvent China's internet firewall. | At times, it has been completely blocked and only accessible via virtual private networks which circumvent China's internet firewall. |
| WhatsApp is Facebook's only product allowed to operate in mainland China. | WhatsApp is Facebook's only product allowed to operate in mainland China. |
| Facebook's main social media service and its Instagram image sharing app are not available on the mainland. | Facebook's main social media service and its Instagram image sharing app are not available on the mainland. |
| Services disrupted | Services disrupted |
| The BBC's China based correspondents said the WhatsApp messaging service started going offline more than a week ago. | The BBC's China based correspondents said the WhatsApp messaging service started going offline more than a week ago. |
| A test of its services on Tuesday showed users in China could not send video messages or photographs to people outside China. | A test of its services on Tuesday showed users in China could not send video messages or photographs to people outside China. |
| The disruption follows restrictions on WhatsApp video chats and photographs in July, which were later lifted. | The disruption follows restrictions on WhatsApp video chats and photographs in July, which were later lifted. |
| The tightening of online censorship comes as China steps up security ahead of the Communist Party's national congress which is held every five years. | The tightening of online censorship comes as China steps up security ahead of the Communist Party's national congress which is held every five years. |
| "The run-up period to a gathering is a normally a time of greater restrictions of all kinds to assure that the critical Party Congress is held under ideal social conditions and is not disrupted," Robert Lawrence Kuhn, long-time adviser to China's leaders and multinational corporations told the BBC. | |
| However, he said it is not yet clear whether the restrictions will be relaxed as has happened after previous party congresses, adding that many analysts do not believe they will be. | However, he said it is not yet clear whether the restrictions will be relaxed as has happened after previous party congresses, adding that many analysts do not believe they will be. |
| Cyber security experts said WhatsApp most likely came under the attention of China's censors because it has a strong reputation for security. | Cyber security experts said WhatsApp most likely came under the attention of China's censors because it has a strong reputation for security. |
| The app provides end-to-end encryption which ensures only the sender and recipient can view the content of messages. | The app provides end-to-end encryption which ensures only the sender and recipient can view the content of messages. |
| It also prevents Facebook from knowing what is said in any text, voice and video conversation being communicated on WhatsApp. | It also prevents Facebook from knowing what is said in any text, voice and video conversation being communicated on WhatsApp. |
| "China has shown little tolerance to encryption especially on platforms that can be used to share materials or potential propaganda," Bill Taylor-Mountford, Asia Pacific vice president for LogRhythm, told the BBC. | |
| Tech fines | Tech fines |
| The latest disruption to WhatsApp appears to be part of a broader crackdown on the internet and online content in China. | The latest disruption to WhatsApp appears to be part of a broader crackdown on the internet and online content in China. |
| On Monday, China's cyber watchdog handed down maximum penalties to some of the country's top technology firms including Tencent, Baidu and Weibo for failing to properly censor online content. | On Monday, China's cyber watchdog handed down maximum penalties to some of the country's top technology firms including Tencent, Baidu and Weibo for failing to properly censor online content. |
| The penalties were imposed for failing to remove fake news and pornography, as well as content that authorities said "incites ethic tension" and "threatens social order". | The penalties were imposed for failing to remove fake news and pornography, as well as content that authorities said "incites ethic tension" and "threatens social order". |