Quite a few countries have kept a tight leash on the Dubai-based messaging platform for years now. China shut it out entirely back in 2015 as part of its broader internet censorship setup and Iran followed in 2018, alleging the app was being used to organise anti-government protests. Didn’t really work, though, users in both places have kept accessing it anyway, mostly through VPNs. Governments have also tied the app to political unrest more broadly. Thailand restricted it in 2020 during pro-democracy protests, Cuba did the same in 2021 amid anti-government demonstrations, and Pakistan has dipped in and out of restrictions citing cybersecurity worries and misinformation.
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