China appears to be blocking Signal messaging app, report says The encrypted messaging app may be the latest platform to be banned. Listen - 01:03 James Martin/CNET Popular encrypted social media app Signal has become "unusable" for some in China, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, suggesting that the app may have been blocked in the world's most populous country. Signal users in China reported issues sending or receiving messages on Monday night, according to the Journal. The issues reportedly went away when they used a virtual private network, or VPN, to mask their location and get around China's filters. If blocked, Signal would join the likes of other messaging and social media services including Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter and Clubhouse, which are banned in the country.