By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I have tried a lot but could not find an online way to check if you are . As compared to the previous year, the notable growth rate is 1.5%. On average, they spend approximately 3 hours on social media on a daily basis. 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. Required fields are marked *. People are so creative on TikTok, and the challenges that keep going viral are so interesting, she told Arab News. Saudi Arabia threatens to ban Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber ExpressVPN stands out as the best choice, but you can also try other top VPN options like NordVPN and Surfshark. To emphasize, anyone found dealing in drugs in Saudi Arabia is liable for the death penalty. Are you a person with an interest in internet freedom? Social Media in Saudi Arabia. Its 7/100! The Times, Fox News, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation had a sudden block in the category of Foreign News Services. Websites of organization that promote terrorism and include terrorist group. We strive to eventually have every article on the site fact checked. As of midnight Thursday, residents of Saudi Arabia could legally begin using internet calling services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber. Each article that we fact check is analyzed for inaccuracies so that the published content is as accurate as possible. Google Bans Location Data Firm Funded by Former Saudi Intelligence Head Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. First, UAE authorities fear that terrorists and extremist groups could take advantage of WhatsApps encryption. Why does your life flash before your eyes near death? KSA the kingdome of Saudi Arabia is a holy place as well as a business hub for the people from all over the world.To enter Saudi kingdome you need an entry permit known as visa. Reporting and depicting radical Islam and criticizing high points are restricted in the country. Privacy Policy The Saudi Arabian government banned Telegram in 2013 to protect local telecom providers and monitor its citizens' online activities. Mobile internet users make up 33.59 million people or 94% of the population. 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. It is currently available to customers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco. 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. ExpressVPN is a great choice for unbanning WhatsApp. 9 Exchanges to Buy Crypto & Bitcoin in Saudi Arabia (2023) Thats what many of them, Read More Top 20 Tips to Protect Your Privacy Online in 2023Continue, Are you looking to browse safely and with the best privacy browser for Android browsers at blazing speeds? Cybersecurity Roadmap for Beginners [2023]. Personal videos, books, and magazines may be subjected to scrutiny and be censored on arrival. Recently, the US became the third country to seriously consider banning the app, according to information from President Donald Trumps administration. In 2020 SAIPKSA aims to blocked 231 websites that violate regulations and rights. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. @SAIPKSA aims to block 231 websites that violate regulations and rights. In reality, this kind of control is usually exercised to stifle political opposition. Turkey - Grindr was banned by Turkey's Directorate of Telecommunication (TB) in 2013 as a "protective measure" following a ruling by an Istanbul court . Saudi is Lifting Skype, WhatsApp Ban, But Will Censor Calls. Taking a 15 minute break to watch silly TikToks has helped me keep motivated. Thank you. Happy to have you though. On YouTube, you can watch anything you want without any problems. Nonetheless, the Saudi government is working hard to ensure that everyone in the nation has access to high-speed internet. The average time spent online daily in Saudi Arabia is 7 hours and 45 minutes. Earlier this month, the kingdom revealed that the ban would be lifted as part of its national reform plan. Reporters Without Borders, a free press advocacy group, branded the actions of the government as relentless in its censorship of the Saudi media and the Internet in 2014. Facebook and Twitter have been banned in Iran since 2009 amid disputed elections and mass protests, limiting public government opposition. Even semi-nude contents are banned in the country including some news websites that show explicit content related to . Europe's refined fuel imports from India are set to surge above 360,000 barrels a day, edging just ahead of those of Saudi Arabia, Kpler's data show. Ulema forced us to the internet censorship in KSA, suppressed gender and civil rights, religious and political control, and counter influences that are outside. In the country, internet literacy has become a primary issue and top priority. So far, the site has a total of 34 categories, including supermarket and grocery items, fashion products, electrical, beauty and cosmetics, home appliances and books. But, such communications will be censored and monitored. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what theyve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful, he said. SPL VPN is available in censorship-heavy countries such as China and Saudi Arabia. It also offers unlimited bandwidth. The authorities restrict harmful, unlawful, anti-Islamic, or offensive information on a wide range of websites, and they do not tolerate online or offline criticism of the Saudi royal family or its allies in Persian Gulf countries. Using a virtual private network (VPN) is not officially prohibited. Saudi Arabia has suspended Whatsapp's voice and video call services as the app failed to meet the regulatory requirements, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported, citing Abdulaziz Al-Ruwais governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). Answer (1 of 2): Most of the x-rated websites are banned in Saudi Arabia. The main motivation for these bans is to protect the profits of the state-owned telecom company. Users and local media report that other apps are still blocked. The telecom regulator in Saudi Arabia has banned the use of the web-based communication application . As a result of this, the authorities can check blogs, websites, social media, chat rooms, emails, and text messages. Looking for amazing property options or villas for sale in Abu Dhabi? Rapid growth in internet and communications technologies (ICTs) has produced robust infrastructure and widespread access to the internet, with 33.6 million internet users in Saudi Arabia as of January 2021, 1 up from 28.9 million in 2019. The survey sheds light on the internet trends that are prevalent among the Arab worlds younger generations, revealing the dominance of video content among millennials. Online Storage or Online Backup: What's The Difference? Gambling Laws by Country - Guides to Betting in the Arab States Pinngle is a secure messenger app with free messaging, voice calls, video chat, & public channels. Your email address will not be published. SPL VPN is proud to announce that many people in the country are using this emerging app to use WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, I Message, Skype, and Line. Products. $99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter. When calling mobiles or landlines, Skype, as one of the most popular VoIP services, offers exceptionally affordable international calling rates. The military-grade encryption offered by SPL VPN makes sure that your data and online identity are safe! Theyre ruling the market! Personal Abuse. The growth rate is 5.4% among active social media users. News websites critical of the Saudi government are also banned. 10 Things Banned in Saudi Arabia | GoAbroad.com . One of the safest ways to meet people in Saudi Arabia is online. There are a number of games that are banned in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month, the kingdom revealed that the ban would be lifted as part of its national reform plan. A compromise for the sake of business growth! Women, children among nine Pakistani pilgrims killed in Saudi Arabia car crash. ##___ pic.twitter.com/Pi8PjZ4Oam, & (@Android_iPhone4) September 21, 2017, These are the applications that have been unblocked, # Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All apps are ok. Saudi TikTok users weigh in on potential app ban, Saudi Arabia reports 137 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death, Saudi Arabia reports 355 new COVID-19 cases, Saudi Arabia reports 153 new COVID-19 cases, Saudi Arabia reports 280 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths, Palestinian prisoner dies in Israel after long hunger strike. Your email address will not be published. Since launching in 2009, WhatsApp has become the worlds most popular instant messaging application, boasting over 2 billion users and counting. SPL VPN is a zero-logs VPN service that allows you to access the web anonymously. Alhumood considered making videos on the platform, but dismissed the idea and only uses it to follow other peoples videos. Is tinder allowed in Saudi Arabia? (2023) This move is typically expected to boost government revenue in the long run. If it was denied, Apple would have faced the consequences. Diffuculties are part of our lives, and no change comes easily. He said that banning the app would be punishing China for its response to the coronavirus.. This is a positive sign for Saudi Arabias corporate growth. Which popular apps/social media is banned/illegal in Saudi? In September 2017, the Saudi government lifted the ban on online voice and video call services. In January 2016, the CITC required mobile service providers to register the fingerprints of new SIM card subscribers. 8 Best VPNs for Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2023: The Fast List . Let us know if you liked the post. Riyadh: Calls to apps that do not comply with the country's laws and regulations have been blocked in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi minister said, adding that Riyadh: Calls to apps that do not comply with the country's laws and regulations have been blocked in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi minister said, adding that keeping users' data . All Saudi internet providers have restricted VoIP over Viber, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger since 2013. Top Communication Apps Ranking - Most Popular Apps in Saudi Arabia Tunisia. The ulema, a body of Islamic religious leaders and jurists, have direct involvement in Saudi Arabias governance. 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. If you use local telecom providers, you will lose a lot of money. Watching or having adult content in ones mobile phone, tablet or any other such devices is illegal in Saudi Arabia. Techyxpert.com is a tech storytelling website and tech news aggregator for apps, websites, gadgets, AI, softwares, games and more. Lip-syncing along with a track, using filters, and adding special effects give users the chance to create short clips that can be shared and downloaded in several social media platforms. Normally, people use the internet for online shopping, social media, health, entertainment, etc. Importing goods and customs. WhatsApp privacy changes could turn off Saudi users: Cybersecurity If you live in or youre traveling to a country thats banned WhatsApp, theres good news: You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass geoblocks. Article 39 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Basic Law of Governance states that: The media is prohibited from spreading any content that affects the religious values and bolsters its unity. Website that teaches hacking and provides its users a hacking software. The only thing close to a restriction so far has been WhatsApp moving the legal age for accessing the app from 13 to 16, in accordance with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).