A disruption of the WhatsApp messaging service in China on Tuesday sparked fears among users that the app may have been blocked by the government.
Users in China complained about long loading times and errors when sending messages. While text messages could be sent without problems through the encrypted app, many users were unable to send photos.
WhatsApp reportedly worked without issues, however, if users turned on the virtual private networks (VPNs) on their phones, which are used to circumvent internet censorship in China.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday he wasn’t aware of the problem.
Facebook and Twitter have been blocked for years by the Chinese government, along with Google, YouTube and international media such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
DPA