Popular instant messaging service WhatsApp now supports proxy servers in the latest versions of its Android and iOS apps. This allows users to avoid government-imposed censorship and internet shutdowns.
“Choosing a proxy allows you to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world dedicated to enabling people to communicate freely,” says the Meta-owned company. .
A proxy acts as an intermediary between end users and service providers by routing requests originating from clients to servers and forwarding responses to devices.
The user[設定]>[ストレージとデータ]>[プロキシ]>[プロキシを使用]You can access the options by going to and entering the address of a trusted proxy server.
Used by over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp also publishes a reference implementation that can be used to set up a proxy server so that other users can connect to the service.
The company emphasized that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) protection is guaranteed even when connecting through a proxy server, and message content is inaccessible from the server, WhatsApp or Meta.
“When you use a third-party proxy, your IP address is shared with your proxy provider,” warns WhatsApp on its help center page. “Third party proxies are not provided by WhatsApp.”
The announcement comes months after Iran restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp following widespread protests after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
In September 2022, encrypted messaging tool Signal, also blocked in Iran, urged users to set up proxy servers to allow Iranians to circumvent restrictions and communicate through the platform.
