Saudi Arabia has some strange plans regarding an internet based tool. It is about WhatsApp which is a communication tool and now supposed to be blocked. This has been planned by Saudi Arabia, if a US firm will not be able to comply with a certain set of requirements. These requirements have set by the telecom regular of kingdom, that is a local newspaper. This would be happening was announced this week. A similar tool like WhatsApp, named Viber was also banned by Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC).
The reason stated is that it is difficult for the state to monitor and deprive telecom companies of sufficient revenue. This revenue is supposed to come from international texts and calls. It seems that the kingdom is making a great push in order to put more control over the cyberspace. This is done to limit the opportunity of interaction among different people. This has been done because the use of smart phone and internet is souring out. It was said in the Arab News by the governor of CITC, Abdulla Al- Darrab that they have continuously committed with WhatsApp. Other than this, their communication is also on similar platforms.
This will enable then to corporate with the telecom provider of Saudi Arabia. In spite of this long chain of communication, it did not bring any positive result. This was the reasons that led to the blocking of Viber. It is the non-compliance of the communication tool that made it ultimately block. The next members in the list are WhatsApp and Skype who are to be blocked. The expected date of blockage of WhatsApp is before the commencement of the month of Ramadan, which is before 9th July.
CITC chief had announced the time when it was asked by him. A directive was issued by the regulator in March which spoke about the blockage of the internet communication tools. It was said that Viber, Skype and WhatsApp have broken the local laws without even specifying how it was done. This has been reported by Local Media when the three important operators of Saudi Arabia were asked whether they will be able to block or monitor the application.