Signal faces censorship in Venezuela and Russia amid efforts to suppress dissent

Signal, the encrypted messaging app, is facing blockages in Venezuela and Russia, likely as part of governmental efforts to suppress dissent. The app's secure communication features have made it a target for censorship in both countries.

In Venezuela, the blockage comes after a disputed presidential election that has sparked protests and arrests. President Nicolás Maduro is trying to maintain control, while the United States has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the legitimate winner. Internet monitoring service NetBlocks reported that Signal is "unreachable on multiple internet providers" in Venezuela, and Maduro has also ordered a block on the social media platform X.

In Russia, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked Signal, citing legal violations. Russians also can’t register a new Signal account without using a VPN. NetBlocks confirmed that most internet providers in the country have restricted access to the app too.

Signal has advised users to enable its censorship circumvention feature to continue using the service.