Saudi Arabia revives ban on 'un-Islamic' Pokmon in response to app Australia to ban recreational vaping in e-cigarette crackdown Popular Messenger Apps in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Telecom Business (STC), which is owned by Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates, and Zain, a Kuwaiti company, dominate the mobile and internet industry. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own. TikTok collects data in a very similar way to US applications, he told Arab News. Future Encrypt Pvt. Among several VPNs, SPL is the best choice! Among them were websites that allowed users to download or stream digital content such as music, movies, and e-books, as well as encrypted sports channels. Let us know if you liked the post. In fact, VoIP is a real threat to the standard mobile call operators and stands against the Saudi governments surveillance system. Over 180 countries allow WhatsApp; only five countries forbid WhatsApp use. News websites that go against the Saudi government. Cookie Notice Provides unbeatable security features and keeps no logs. The Saudi Arabian government has cited security concerns as the reason for the ban, as these apps use encryption technology that makes it difficult for authorities to monitor and control communication. Saudi people make use of a VPN to make calls using apps like WhatsApp, Skype, facetime, etc. In reality, this kind of control is usually exercised to stifle political opposition. 2023 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement. FaceTime is a proprietary videotelephony app developed by Apple Inc. People are using this app to connect with family and friends around the world with audio and video calls. . Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Sawaha has said that no one will be allowed to cross the red line which protects the sovereignty and security of the country and the nation. The government of KSA had imposed some internet restrictions intended to prevent content that is offensive to Islamic religious values and Saudi Arabian Culture. Saudi Arabia: rejection of social media bans due to the ability to Saudi Arabia imposes extreme penalties for the import, manufacture, possession, and use of both alcohol and illegal drugs. The reliance of Europe on Indian crude oil products has surged. 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Sign up for weekly global internet censorship news! He added that these requirements include: clear mechanisms and measures when dealing with users personal data in the kingdom, removing content that violates local laws (a complex task in Saudi Arabia), and the app provider's cooperation with the CITC to handle emergency cases. One of the safest ways to meet people in Saudi Arabia is online. As of midnight Thursday, residents of Saudi Arabia could legally begin using internet calling services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber. ExpressVPN is a great choice for unbanning WhatsApp. Connect to a server location where WhatsApp calling is not restricted by using SPL VPN on the device you use WhatsApp on. It remains unclear how the VoIP apps that have been unblocked meet the above-mentioned regulatory requirements, and whether there have been negotiations between the companies that own them and the Saudi government. 25.52 million active users of WhatsApp in Saudi were reported. A partial lifting of the ban came into effect on 20 September, and users in Saudi Arabia are now able to make calls using apps such as Line, Snapchat, FaceTime, Skype, Telegram and Tango. Following an internet inspection campaign in June 2020, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property(SAIP), a government entity created in 2018, blocked 231 websites. Hit the install button and it should download quickly. WhatsApp and Skype are two of the most popular messaging and video calling apps in the world. In the midst of a diplomatic Gulf crisis that saw Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing the Gulf nation of supporting terrorism and Islamist groups, the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera was also targeted. Saudi law prohibits the importation of weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pork and pork products, pornographic materials, distillery equipment, re-treaded or used tyres . On social media, its 3 hours and 24 minutes. The platform, Tod TV, is owned by the Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group, which was banned in Saudi Arabia for several years during a row between the two countries but was restored in October 2021. Saudi Arabia, an authoritarian and strongly religious state, censors the internet to preserve a ruling class and enforce a religious narrative under the guise of defending the Kingdoms peace, morality, and stability. Saudi TikTok users weigh in on potential app ban | Arab News The Line is the less popular and less used messenger app, with 14% of users and 4.09 million active users. The government of Saudi Arabia has decided to lift the ban to allow citizens to use the Whatsapp app. The VPN server then accesses the content on your behalf and sends it to you across the secure tunnel. Online Betting: All online gambling is considered illegal in Tunisia, though many foreign sites accept players from the country, and the government does not block access to betting sites. PDF Opening Digital Borders Cautiously yet Decisively: Digital Filtering in Saudi Arabia restricts your right to use VoIP, but a VPN allows you to do so with just a few clicks. we dene to include both mobile apps and website access, in Saudi Arabia over a period of three years. Grindr Banned In Lebanon: List Of Countries That Prohibit Gay Dating App Tunisia. Here the internets penetration in Saudi Arabia is clearly revealed. Well, the Play Store is ready with numerous browser options. Does Instagram Work In Saudi? - LegalProX Other voice and video call services are available in the Kingdom, he said on the . Is video call allowed in Riyadh? The specific brand of humor on that app is the fastest way to make me laugh. Saudi Customs also does not allow importation of cars older than five years, salvaged cars, used police cars, taxies and . WhatsApp, Skype, SnapChat, FaceTime, and Telegram - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE Middle Eastern countries have blocked Voice over Internet Protocol services (VoIP) and messaging apps/websites after a concern was raised that these medium will eat into the profits of the countries telecom companies. Switching to the best VPN is the only solution left for you. . Saudi law prohibits the importation of weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pork and pork products, pornographic materials, distillery equipment, re-treaded or used tyres, used clothing and certain sculptures. The growth rate is 5.4% among active social media users. The Saudi government may ensure that any content accessed from within the Kingdom is censored by gaining extensive control over the corporations that provide internet access. The biggest point is that 98% of the population are active internet users. Mobile internet users make up 33.59 million people or 94% of . Here we are discussing internet censorship in Saudi Arabia in 2022 and detailed statistics. Techyxpert.com is a tech storytelling website and tech news aggregator for apps, websites, gadgets, AI, softwares, games and more. Once youre connected, open WhatsApp to start texting or calling. BitOasis. @SAIPKSA aims to block 231 websites that violate regulations and rights. Apps Banned in Saudi Arabia. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, interest in the app skyrocketed as many users downloaded TikTok to watch videos and try to recreate them while in quarantine. Its 7/100! Google has banned SafeGraph, a location data firm whose investors include a former head of Saudi intelligence, Motherboard has learned. 1. Cookie Policy. The average time spent online daily in Saudi Arabia is 7 hours and 45 minutes. All Saudi internet providers have restricted VoIP over Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger since 2013. Youre all aware that WhatsApp Calling helps you save money on international calls. The government closely controls the media and places restrictions on it under Saudi law. Here we are discussing Internet censorship and Internet restriction in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Many people in Saudi Arabia, both citizens, and visitors, use VPNs every day to access censored or region-locked content. CyberGhost has servers in Saudi Arabia. Video content reigns supreme in the sphere of online media consumption in the Arab world. Enjoy latest tech news with keeping the flow of storytelling with Xpert Tech guy. For this example, well use ExpressVPN. Facetime: Facetime is a VoIP calling service by Apple, which has been blocked by the ISPs in Saudi Arabia. Excellent security, online protection and privacy, it offers extremely fast connections and server locations in a huge range of countries. It is important for visitors to Saudi Arabia to be aware of these restrictions and to comply with local laws and regulations when using technology. Your email address will not be published. Earlier this month, the kingdom revealed that the ban would be lifted as part of its national reform plan. According to the Saudi minister, the government has taken action against some of the companies that sold consumer data, stressing that raising awareness and setting rules and regulations is the governments primary responsibility. It is one of other banned apps Saudi Arabia due to concerns over indecent content, including sexual and violent content, and its potential negative impact on the country's conservative society, but vpn Saudi Arabia server support it so users are able to use it in that way. Aside from that, any nudity, pornography, gambling sites and casinos, sites about alcohol and drugs, and blasphemous sites that criticize Muhammad and Islam are prohibited. Since 1998, the Great Firewall of China has been used to restrict access to any app that the Chinese government deems noncompliant. The Iranian government has plans to build a national internet featuring an internal search engine and internal messaging apps a potential threat to WhatsApp. Saudi Arabia, which had already blocked features of most chat apps, has moved to block Facebook Messenger. Whats going on around you? Free Tools. The app isnt currently banned in Iran, but it has been in the past during protests and times of unrest. Saudis expect non-Muslim foreign teachers to abide by this law while teaching in Saudi Arabia too, regardless of their own religious beliefs. In addition, all nudity, pornography, gambling sites and casinos, sites that discuss alcohol and drugs, and sites that are considered blasphemous against the prophet Muhammad and Islam are banned. Select yes if you are the owner of the website. He said that banning the app would be punishing China for its response to the coronavirus.. Personal Abuse. Theres no telling if Brazil will ban WhatsApp in the future, but with the Brazilian National Congress considering legislation that would make messages traceable, it seems theres no truce just yet. SPL VPN is the finest VPN to use to circumvent WhatsApp calling restrictions here in Saudi Arabia. The authorities have already claimed that the calls will be monitored with the help of the CITC (Communication and Information Technology Commission). Terms and Conditions Here are a few of the most important things banned in Saudi Arabia that you should definitely be aware of before arrival: 1. The US Navy's USS Brunswick arrived in the . Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Enter ExpressVPN. A single click to connect to the server location where the VoIP services are not blocked. Solo Females Out & About. April 17, 2023. While Saudi Arabia has yet to announce a ban of any kind of TikTok, local users and followers are trying to practice caution while using the app anyway. Here we introduce the top 20 tips to protect your privacy online in 2023 and beyond. Which Apps are Banned in Saudi Arabia? - Recifest VoIP apps such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp are banned in the Kingdom Tech Desk September 14, 2017 Saudi men explore social media on their mobile devices as they sit at a cafe in Riyadh, Saudi . Offline Betting: There are four land-based casinos in Tunisia, though only foreigners are allowed to play at them. The ministry of communications said access to Voice over . Misuse! Your email address will not be published. A VPN allows you to browse the internet without worrying about security risks. In fact, Google rules the heart of Saudi Arabia. CyberGhost: Good VPN option for rookie users. ExpressVPN stands out as the best choice, but you can also try other top VPN options like NordVPN and Surfshark. Following a provisional ban in April 2019, Indias Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology banned TikTok permanently in June this year, along with 58 other Chinese apps. Saudi Arabia is lifting a ban on voice and video calling apps such as Skype, in a move aimed at boosting productivity and economic growth. ExpressVPNs obfuscated servers ensure that governments cant detect your VPN traffic and see it as just normal internet traffic. The CITCexplained in a statement this week that easing these restrictions comes in line with modern trends, reasoning that reliance on the revenues of (mobile) data and added services is the international trend that operators in the kingdom should follow.. The main motivation for these bans is to protect the profits of the state-owned telecom company. BANNED APPLICATION IN SAUDI ARABIA - Arab Point 24 Rules and laws on drugs and alcohol in Saudi Arabia | Expatica The only way to get out of these issues is to switch to the best VPN on everyones phones. This increase can be linked with the ban on Russian oil. It has been banned in Saudi Arabia for several years due to its popularity among terrorist groups and the inability of the government to access users messages. Saudi Arabia ranked 161st out of 173 countries in freedom of the press. The total mobile connections in Saudi Arabia are 41.03 million. Banned: 10 popular social networks and websites that are (or were . There has been a tussle raging between the Indian government and WhatsApp regarding privacy, but theres no clear indication of an imminent ban. The network is not restricted! In Saudi Arabia, 71.87% of people are using mobile phones. RIYADH: Chinese video platform TikTok is under fire once again, as rumors of the app being a tool used by the Chinese government to spy on users resurface online. Although the government of Saudi Arabia blocks access to many VPN providers' websites and servers, using a VPN is not illegal in the country. From this, we can get to the point that Saudis spend a lot of time on the internet. As the country continues to evolve and modernise, it remains to be seen whether the bans on these apps will be lifted or whether more apps will be added to the list of banned technologies. Top Google Play apps in Saudi Arabia | Communication | Top Paid; Top Google Play apps in Saudi Arabia | Communication | Top Free; Follow us on . Solo Females Out & About Women in Saudi Arabia are generally not allowed to travel alone or without an electronic authorization, until they reach the age of 45. Violators of copyright restrictions might face fines of up to $66,000, as well as the loss of their commercial licenses and up to six months in prison, according to SAIP. 06-46, 1003, Bukit Merah Central,Bukit Merah, 159836 SG, Marketed by: #1 Growth Marketing Agency in Kerala, Top 20 Tips to Protect Your Privacy Online in 2023, Top 18 Best Privacy Browsers for Android 2023. First, UAE authorities fear that terrorists and extremist groups could take advantage of WhatsApps encryption. Media speculated that the move may have been motivated by the Saudi government's attempt to monitor these applications and to protect local telecom operators from revenue losses, or both. But, Saudi Arabia does not support the availability of FaceTime on devices purchased in the country. CyberGhost's easy-to-use apps provide one-click access to comprehensive protection. However, if an employee is involved in fraudulent activity and the employer reports it and the court issues an order against the expat employee, the MOI will blacklist the expat from entering back to Saudi Arabia. It punishes by up to five years in jail the storage and dissemination of content impinging on public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy.. Your location is not a barrier to your digital happiness. Find out the countries where WhatsApp is banned, their reasons for doing so and how you can still use the app in such jurisdictions. Required fields are marked *. Happy to have you though. While Saudi Arabia has yet to announce a ban of any kind of TikTok, local users and followers are trying to practice caution while using the app anyway. Although WhatsApp is the world's most-used instant messaging app, a handful of countries have banned it. The ulema, a body of Islamic religious leaders and jurists, have direct involvement in Saudi Arabias governance. Key Takeaways: Only five countries in the world have banned WhatsApp in some capacity: China, North Korea, Syria, Qatar and the UAE. A VPN will make your browsing experience faster and more private by letting you build a secure tunnel between your computer and a VPN server located in a different region where the website is freely available. Countries Where WhatsApp Is Banned & How to Get Around the Ban in 2023. However, providers frequently change aspects of their services, so if you see an inaccuracy in a fact-checked article, please email us at feedback[at]cloudwards[dot]net. Aside from that, they do things like: Forcing ISPs to limit connections, Implementing vague regulations to enforce content censorship. Privacy Policy Website promoting LGBT culture and rights. Saudi Arabia is a beautiful place to visit or even live in. Under the rules and regulations of the government of Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to wear any such clothes or even makeup that can intentionally/unintentionally show off their beauty. If you use Facebook or Twitter, its not much different than using TikTok, he said. It is worth noting that social media is becoming an integral part of the Saudi Arabian lifestyle. BitOasis is a UAE-based exchange that serves customers across the Middle East and North Africa. Nowadays people are sharing unacceptable personal data such as porn videos and pictures on some private apps such as Skype,Facebook and Viber etc. We have a guide on how to unblock WhatsApp and VoIP services in Qatar and other countries. Saudi Arabia censors a wide range of media, including books, newspapers, periodicals, films, television, and Internet content. You can also access Internet chat, call and messaging services, and many sites with a VPN. Aside from its strong encryption protocols, ExpressVPN supports IP and DNS leak protection features that ensure your data never leaks.