Submission + - Saudi Arabia blocks Viber messaging service (bbc.co.uk)
another random user writes: The head of the messaging application Viber has said people in Saudi Arabia have had basic freedoms taken away, after his service was blocked there.
Talmon Marco told the BBC he did not know the reason for the move, but that Viber would be restored soon.
In March Saudi authorities warned Viber and other encrypted messaging services that they would be blocked unless they provided a means to to be monitored. Mr Marco said he had refused to provide data requested by Saudi officials.
The fact that Viber's free phone and text messaging service is no longer working in the country is not entirely unexpected. The Saudi telecoms regulator had warned the firm — along with Skype and Whatsapp — that they would be blocked if they did not agree to be monitored.
Talmon Marco told the BBC he did not know the reason for the move, but that Viber would be restored soon.
In March Saudi authorities warned Viber and other encrypted messaging services that they would be blocked unless they provided a means to to be monitored. Mr Marco said he had refused to provide data requested by Saudi officials.
The fact that Viber's free phone and text messaging service is no longer working in the country is not entirely unexpected. The Saudi telecoms regulator had warned the firm — along with Skype and Whatsapp — that they would be blocked if they did not agree to be monitored.