Chinese app helps users bypass Great Firewall – then disappears

Tuber’s browser required mobile number registration, giving developers the ability to track activity because all smartphone numbers in the country are linked to unique Chinese identification. — AFP

One Chinese app briefly gave the country’s Internet users access to long-banned websites like Facebook Inc and Google, setting off speculation about the future of Beijing’s censorship practices.

The Tuber browser, backed by Chinese cybersecurity giant 360 Security Technology Inc, appeared to provide the nation’s 904 million online users the ability to legally visit overseas websites and browse foreign social media. Chinese users hailed their newfound ability to peruse content from YouTube videos to Instagram photos without an illegal virtual private network, or VPN.