09.01.2025 15:13:00
Дата публикации
In the modern world, communications and internet access play a vital role, especially in times of crisis, disasters and conflicts. When traditional communication channels are unavailable, services like WhatsApp become an indispensable tool for assistance.
One striking example is the work of the White Helmets organization in Syria. In February 2023, when an earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings and city utilities, residents who were unable to call emergency numbers turned to WhatsApp. It was there that rescue operations were coordinated, including ambulances and rubble removal services.
The messenger became the main means of communication in northwestern Syria back in 2021. In these conditions, it helps to report emergencies: from accidents to dangerous finds, such as unexploded ordnance.
WhatsApp is used not only by humanitarian organizations, but also by journalists, refugees and local residents in conflict zones. Its data compression algorithms allow it to work even with a weak internet signal, which makes it indispensable in extreme situations.
In the Gaza Strip, during the fighting in 2023, the messenger became a key channel for UN employees and journalists. Even with a very weak connection, WhatsApp allowed voice messages and short videos to be transmitted.
The messenger is no less important for refugees. For example, residents of Afghanistan, forced to leave the country due to disagreements with the new authorities, used WhatsApp to contact their families and transmit data about their location, believing that the Taliban would not be able to intercept the messenger's traffic, unlike regular cellular communications.
Despite end-to-end encryption, security experts have previously noted the messenger's vulnerabilities that can be used for surveillance and data collection.
At the same time, WhatsApp periodically adds features to increase privacy, such as disappearing messages and password protection of chats.
Critics also point out that messaging apps can be used to fuel conflict. For example, in Sudan and Somalia, WhatsApp has been used to coordinate militant attacks, exacerbating violence and destabilizing regions.
Despite this, the benefits of services like WhatsApp in times of crisis far outweigh the risks. For millions of people in emergency situations, it remains the primary means of communication that helps them stay connected.
This is why a complete internet shutdown, like a block on messaging apps, is devastating. It deprives people of access to information, communication with loved ones, and emergency assistance, increasing the number of victims and exacerbating the crisis.
It is important to understand that access to the internet and communication services must be ensured even in the most difficult conditions. Major human rights organizations argue that restricting communication under any pretext is a serious violation of human rights.
We would also like to remind you about the campaign against Internet shutdowns in Kazakhstan (https://shutdown.kz/), within the framework of which lawsuits were filed against telecom operators, testimonies of victims were voiced, and expert opinions were collected on the harmfulness of Internet shutdowns.
(the text was translated automatically)
One striking example is the work of the White Helmets organization in Syria. In February 2023, when an earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings and city utilities, residents who were unable to call emergency numbers turned to WhatsApp. It was there that rescue operations were coordinated, including ambulances and rubble removal services.
The messenger became the main means of communication in northwestern Syria back in 2021. In these conditions, it helps to report emergencies: from accidents to dangerous finds, such as unexploded ordnance.
WhatsApp is used not only by humanitarian organizations, but also by journalists, refugees and local residents in conflict zones. Its data compression algorithms allow it to work even with a weak internet signal, which makes it indispensable in extreme situations.
In the Gaza Strip, during the fighting in 2023, the messenger became a key channel for UN employees and journalists. Even with a very weak connection, WhatsApp allowed voice messages and short videos to be transmitted.
The messenger is no less important for refugees. For example, residents of Afghanistan, forced to leave the country due to disagreements with the new authorities, used WhatsApp to contact their families and transmit data about their location, believing that the Taliban would not be able to intercept the messenger's traffic, unlike regular cellular communications.
Despite end-to-end encryption, security experts have previously noted the messenger's vulnerabilities that can be used for surveillance and data collection.
At the same time, WhatsApp periodically adds features to increase privacy, such as disappearing messages and password protection of chats.
Critics also point out that messaging apps can be used to fuel conflict. For example, in Sudan and Somalia, WhatsApp has been used to coordinate militant attacks, exacerbating violence and destabilizing regions.
Despite this, the benefits of services like WhatsApp in times of crisis far outweigh the risks. For millions of people in emergency situations, it remains the primary means of communication that helps them stay connected.
This is why a complete internet shutdown, like a block on messaging apps, is devastating. It deprives people of access to information, communication with loved ones, and emergency assistance, increasing the number of victims and exacerbating the crisis.
It is important to understand that access to the internet and communication services must be ensured even in the most difficult conditions. Major human rights organizations argue that restricting communication under any pretext is a serious violation of human rights.
We would also like to remind you about the campaign against Internet shutdowns in Kazakhstan (https://shutdown.kz/), within the framework of which lawsuits were filed against telecom operators, testimonies of victims were voiced, and expert opinions were collected on the harmfulness of Internet shutdowns.
(the text was translated automatically)
