Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) is all set to block WhatsApp if it doesn't give in to their rules
After blocking the popular Internet messaging app, Viber and threatening to ban Blackberry's instant messaging service BBM, looks like WhatsApp is next up in line.
In the beginning of June, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia slapped a ban on Viber, a service that allowed users to call for free, send messages and share photos as they failed to comply with the rules of the country's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC).
Lately, even WhatsApp, a similar app is facing the threat as its service is harder to monitor and cuts into the revenues of local telecom companies as it allows messages to be sent over the internet for free.
CITC has planned to block WhatsApp in a couple of weeks before Ramadan if the service does not comply with local regulations.
The CITC has been asking for Internet-based apps including Skype to allow easier monitoring but companies have refused, leading to the ban on Viber, and now WhatsApp and Skype may follow suite.
However, knowing the long history of bans in Saudi Arabia, this doesn't really come across as a surprise.
The country has been known for filtering inappropriate websites which showcase sex, family planning, feminism and gay rights. On 11 July 2006, Google Translate and Wikipedia were blocked as they were being used to bypass the filters on the blocked sites by translating them.
Public cinemas in Saudi Arabia have been illegal since the 1980s as cinemas were considered to be a waste of time and a corrupt influence.
If the Internet and movies can be banned, then how can the media be an exception?
In 1994, all women magazines were banned by the ministry of information as foreign newspapers and magazines had a tendency to focus on sexual content. After this ban, nineteen out of a total of twenty-four magazines were closed down.
Nudity and pornography are illegal in Saudi Arabia and so are public displays of affection like hugging and kissing.
The most preposterous of all is the banning of women driving cars in the kingdom. There is no real law that bans women from driving cars but to be able to legally drive a car, a local driving licence is needed and the Saudi government doesn't issue women the licence thus depriving them the freedom of driving and being able to commute on their own. This was mainly put into force because of the popular notion of women starting to meet or interact with unmarried men which is not allowed.
Moreover, it could also be their first step to independence.
And we, in India complain about not having the correct kind of freedom, equality and justice.
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