Saudi Arabia to lift ban on internet calls

Unpublished
Riyadh - Saudi Arabia is lifting a ban on voice and video calling apps such as WhatsApp and Skype, in a move aimed at boosting productivity and economic growth. The ministry of communications said access to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) would be "widely available to users" from Wednesday. It had previously blocked VoIP apps for failing to comply with "regulations". The announcement comes only days after Snapchat blocked Al Jazeera from its app in the conservative Gulf kingdom. Saudi officials accused the Qatar-based network of being a "harmful, propaganda-pushing channel that supports extremism". Al Jazeera, which denies the charge, said Snapchat's actions were a "clear attack on the rights of journalists and media professionals to report and cover stories freely from around the world". Saudi Arabia blocked access to Al Jazeera's website at the end of May, shortly before the country severed all links with Qatar over the emirate's alleged support for terrorism and ties with Iran. More than 20 prominent religious figures, writers, journalists, academics and activists were also reportedly detained earlier this month in a crackdown on dissent linked to the diplomatic dispute.(FA)

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