WhatsApp has announced that it is now allowing users to connect through proxy servers in order to remain online in the event of internet disruptions or shutdowns. With this proxy feature, users will stay active on WhatsApp if their connection is blocked.
In a new year message to users, the company says, “just as we’ve celebrated the start to 2023 through private texts or calls, there are many people who continue to be denied the ability to reach their loved ones because of internet shutdowns.”
The Meta owned company called out Iranian government for cutting people off from receiving “urgent help” for months and violating human rights. WhatsApp hopes that with proxy connections, blackouts like those seen in Iran can be prevented.
Encouraging its global community to volunteer proxies, the company says it will offer guidance for anyone interested on how to set up a proxy. The company has assured that connecting through a proxy maintains the same high level of privacy and security that WhatsApp provides, with end-to-end encryption protecting personal messages.