Chinese protesters are finding new ways to mobilize, despite the government's attempts of censorship.
As well as blocking Instagram, Chinese authorities have also pulled Internet access in an attempt to make organizing protests harder. The demonstrators have begun to use the smartphone app FireChat, which connects users directly to others who are up to 250 feet away without requring users to be online.
Protests are being held in Hong Kong over demands for greater democracy. Demonstrators have posted pro-democracy messages and selfies with shaved heads to show support for the cause. However, the government is prepared to hush the voices of the protesters. "They are going to be on top of this situation 24/7," says Charlie Smith, co-founder of Greatfire.org, a group that tracks Internet censorship in China.
When thousands of people gather in one place, cell towers can become overloaded and getting Internet on smartphones can become virtually impossible. The FireChat app combats this problem by allowing for offline use. The app also allows multiple people within a vicinity to join a chat, which extends the network to eventually reach a few thousand people.
FireChat does have its downsides. Because the chat rooms are open, it is easy for local authorities to eavesdrop on the conversation. The company is reportedly working on updates to the app to include private messaging and encryption.
According to Micha Benoliel the CEO of Open Garden, the company behind FireChat, approximately 200,000 people in Hong Kong downloaded the app between Sunday and Tuesday.
Even though FireChat reached the top of the app store charts, Benoliel says this isn't a "complete surprise." Taiwanese protesters first made the app popular during protests in March.
"If this application can help in this way, it's very aligned with the mission of the company," Benoliel says. "[FireChat] hasn't been built for that purpose, but if it can help people in that situation, we are very supportive of what's happening here in Hong Kong."
