Egypt blocks private messaging app

The Egyptian government has blocked an end-to-end encryption service, it has emerged.

The company that owns “Signal” a private messaging app confirmed, Monday, that the app was being censored in Egypt.

We've been investigating over the weekend, and have confirmed that Egypt is censoring access to Signal.

— Signal (@signalapp) December 19, 2016

The app, available on Android and Apple devices enables to sent encrypted messages – including photo and videos – thus potentially avoiding government surveillance.

During the Egyptian revolution the then president, Hosni Mubarak, shut down access to the internet nationwide.

According to  leaked documents earlier this year, it was revealed that a secret arm of the Egyptian state exists and has extensive powers to spy on activists, political opponents and the Egyptian population at large.