Signal experiencing technical difficulties, working to restore service

Signal said on Friday it was experiencing technical difficulties and working to restore the service, as it dealt with a flood of new users after rival messaging app WhatsApp announced a controversial change in privacy terms.

Along with another encrypted app, Telegram, Signal has been the main beneficiary of online outrage around the policy changes announced by WhatsApp last week. Telegram said on Wednesday it had surpassed 500 million active users globally.

“We have been adding new servers and extra capacity at a record pace every single day this week, but today exceeded even our most optimistic projections,” said Aruna Harder, Chief Operating Officer of Signal Messenger.