Whats App officially names Mullvad and Amnezia VPN as go-to tools for bypassing censorship | Tech Radar

Overview

Whats App officially names Mullvad and Amnezia VPN as go-to tools for bypassing censorship

The messaging giant specifically mentions Mullvad and Amnezia as "well-regarded" VPN providers

Details

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Whats App suggests using a VPN to evade network restrictions on its service

It explicitly lists Mullvad and Amnezia VPN as "well-regarded" VPN providers

The move comes as Whats App is increasingly a target of censors wordwide

For millions of users living under restrictive internet regimes, maintaining access to basic communication tools is a daily battle. In a crucial update to its support documentation, Whats App has begun explicitly recommending two privacy-focused services, Mullvad and Amnezia VPN, to help users stay connected when the app is blocked.

The update appears in the platform’s Help Center under the section dedicated to connecting when the network is down or blocked, signaling a more hands-on approach to aiding users in jurisdictions with heavy internet censorship.

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According to the newly updated Whats App FAQ, the company states: "Using a VPN can allow you to connect to Whats App if it is unavailable from your current network." It then goes a step further, adding: "Examples of well-regarded VPN providers include Mullvad and Amnezia."

The page also directs users to the website of digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) for further reading on digital safety, reinforcing the privacy-centric nature of this advice.

The selection of these two specific providers is telling. Unlike the massive commercial VPNs often seen in TV spots, both Mullvad and Amnezia occupy a more technical, privacy-hardened niche.

While privacy is Mullvad's main concern, the provider has also been beefing up its censorship resistance over the years. It even added QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) across all its apps recently for better unblocking.

🔥Now @Whats App recommends connecting to Amnezia VPN if your network isn’t working They’ve added a link to @Amnezia VPN in their Help Center because our technology is built to bypass even the toughest censorship. Try it yourself — request a demo.https://t.co/noa Dx Rtxvv pic.twitter.com/6r 4 Zepv 1rt February 27, 2026

🔥Now @Whats App recommends connecting to Amnezia VPN if your network isn’t working They’ve added a link to @Amnezia VPN in their Help Center because our technology is built to bypass even the toughest censorship. Try it yourself — request a demo.https://t.co/noa Dx Rtxvv pic.twitter.com/6r 4 Zepv 1rt February 27, 2026

Amnezia VPN is a Russian-based provider specifically designed to bypass harsh censorship. It's especially known for building protocols that cloak VPN traffic, making it look like regular web browsing to fool censorship firewalls.

While offering its own applications, Amenzia is an open-source solution that allows users to set up their own self-hosted VPN on a rented virtual private server (VPS), too. Nym VPN and Windscribe have both integrated Amenzia's proprietary protocol, Amenzia WG, into their services, exactly for its efficiency in bypassing Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) blocking techniques.

Mullvad VPN takes its banned anti-surveillance ad to the streets after UK TV rejection

Pakistan begins blocking unregistered VPN apps – and this popular service is among the casualties

Russia is using DNS and DPI to block You Tube, Telegram and Whats App while pushing state-controlled MAX as alternative

By highlighting these two, Whats App is effectively pointing users toward tools designed to survive in hostile network environments, rather than just tools designed for streaming or casual browsing.

The context of this update cannot be ignored. With digital authoritarianism on the rise, the ability to access end-to-end encrypted messaging is no longer guaranteed.

Whats App is keen to remind users that using these tools does not compromise the security of their chats. The support page reiterates: "Please note that while using a VPN, Whats App's default end-to-end encryption keeps your personal messages and calls private... No one outside of the chat, not even Whats App, can read, listen to, or share them."

For users in regions where Whats App is frequently throttled or blocked, this official acknowledgement of specific secure VPN tools validates what many activists and tech-savvy users have known for years: in 2026, a VPN is not just an accessory; it is essential infrastructure.

If you are currently looking for a way to secure your connection, these "well-regarded" options are a strong place to start, but they aren't your only options. For other secure and reliable alternatives, I suggest checking our guides to the best free VPN and best VPN services overall.

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Rene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.

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Key Takeaways

• Whats App officially names Mullvad and Amnezia VPN as go-to tools for bypassing censorship

• The messaging giant specifically mentions Mullvad and Amnezia as "well-regarded" VPN providers

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Whats App suggests using a VPN to evade network restrictions on its service

• It explicitly lists Mullvad and Amnezia VPN as "well-regarded" VPN providers