Alphabet's Intra App Encrypts DNS Queries To Help Users Bypass Online Censorship (zdnet.com)

Catalin Cimpanu, writing for ZDNet: Jigsaw, a technology incubator created by Google and operated as a subsidiary under the Alphabet brand, has released today an Android app named Intra that can encrypt DNS queries as a protection against DNS manipulation at the ISP (internet service provider) level. DNS manipulation is one of the most common forms of online censorship used by oppressive regimes or unscrupulous ISPs, used to block access to news sites, information portals, social media platforms, undesirable software, and more. Intra protects against DNS manipulation by keeping DNS traffic hidden from third-parties with state-level surveillance capabilities, such as internet service providers in countries with autocratic regimes. Reports suggest that Alphabet tested the app with a few dozen political activists in Venezuela before the global roll-out.

Comments

I thought this was a joke

[CranberryKing]

at first. Google? Fighting Censorship? Give us a break.

Re:I thought this was a joke

[Anonymous Coward]

It's only to funnel the traffic to THEIR encrypted DNS network so THEY can gather all the metadata not the pesky governments (apart from a list of approved governments who get their share of course).

Re:Most of those same countries restrict or outlaw

[viperidaenz]

It's not encrypted data sent in regular DNS queries, it's DNS over HTTPS. Like what Firefox started doing.
From a network monitoring point of view, it's regular HTTPS traffic.