Censorship of Skype
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File:Skype logo (fully transparent).svg logo]]
Several countries have interfered with or banned access to the telecommunications application software Skype.{{cite news |title=BTRC blocks Skype |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/js-polls-2018/btrc-blocks-skype-1662676 |accessdate=19 November 2018 |agency=The Daily Star |issue=JS Polls 2018 |date=19 November 2018}}{{cite news |title=You Can Make Skype Calls in Morocco Again |url=http://fortune.com/2016/11/04/morocco-skype-ban/ |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=Fortune |date=4 November 2016}} The use of the website has also been restricted in other ways.{{cite news |last1=Radcliffe |first1=Damian |title=Skype banned, WhatsApp blocked: What's Middle East's problem with messenger apps? |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/skype-banned-whatsapp-blocked-whats-middle-easts-problem-with-messenger-apps/ |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=ZD Net |issue=Mobility |date=11 December 2017}}
Censorship by country
=Uzbekistan=
After issuance of the [https://lex.uz/docs/-4396419 new amendment] (Article 27.1) to the Personal Data Law on January 14, 2021, Uzbekistan government started demanding foreign agencies to store its citizens' data on Uzbekistan soil. Several companies ignored the request. Thus, Uzbekistan government formally issued a [https://gis.uz/uz/news/997 statement] saying it blocked several of them including [https://gis.uz/ru/news/896 Skype, TikTok], Twitter.
=Bangladesh=
After the complaint from Bangladesh Awami League about using Skype for election interview process by the opposition party of Bangladesh, The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has blocked the telecommunications application Skype.com.{{cite news |title=BTRC set bad example 'blocking' Skype: BNP |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/186695/BTRC-set-bad-example-%E2%80%98blocking%E2%80%99-Skype-BNP |accessdate=19 November 2018 |work=Prothom Alo |issue=19 November 2018 |publisher=Matiur Rahman}}
=Morocco=
Morocco has boycott Skype as a part of the North African country's telecommunication operators that implemented the ban.{{cite news |title=Morocco banned Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. It didn't go down well |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/boycotts-appeals-petitions-restore-blocked-voip-calls-morocco-1520817507 |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=Middle East Eye |issue=Inside Morocco |date=9 March 2016}}
=Oman=
Skype was blocked in Oman for several years as well as others voice calling services.{{Cite web |url=https://aeroshield.me/how-to-unblock-skype-in-oman |title=How to Unblock Skype in Oman |date=9 September 2019}}{{better source needed|date=December 2019}} In March 2020, Skype was unblocked following the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite news |title=Oman lifts Skype ban amid Covid-19 |url=https://www.meed.com/oman-lifts-skype-ban-amid-covid-19 |accessdate=26 March 2020 |work=MEED |date=18 March 2020 |language=en}}
=China=
Disruption to Skype began in October 2017. The Ministry of Public Security reported that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with local laws and has since removed Skype from the app store in China, though it is not widely used by domestic consumers.{{cite news |title=Skype Now Banned in China! |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cUaeOUE6wKSToKkvAUCdrQ? |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=weixin |issue=Job Tube Daily |date=22 November 2017}}
=United Arab Emirates=
In the United Arab Emirates, unlicensed VoIP services are blocked. VoIP technology used by various apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber and Snapchat are inoperative. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) blocked Skype in January 2018, explaining that the service is not licensed. UAE-based telecom operators offer paid VoIP service through their applications BOTIM and C'Me. The block is attributed to the potential loss of revenues that operators such as Du and Etisalat would face as a result of reduced demand for their own telecom services.{{cite news |title=Skype ban in the UAE: what the future may hold for VoIP services |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/skype-ban-in-the-uae-what-the-future-may-hold-for-voip-services-1.726275 |accessdate=20 November 2018 |work=The National |date=1 May 2018}}
The blocking of VoIP is a controversial topic in UAE, with many citizens asking for the block of the technology to be removed.{{cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/fresh-debate-on-lifting-whatsapp-skype-call-ban-in-uae |title=Fresh debate on lifting WhatsApp, Skype call ban in UAE |newspaper=Khaleej Times |date=13 April 2019}} However, by using a VPN to access UAE Skype, you will be able to easily gain full access to UAE Skype.
= Saudi Arabia =
Saudi Arabia censors a wide range of media, including books, newspapers, magazines, films, television, and Internet content. The Saudi government closely monitors and restricts the media in accordance with official state law. Many Internet activities such as websites and VoIP (WhatsApp calling, Skype etc.) are strictly restricted in Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=Internet Censorship In Saudi Arabia 2022 [Statistics] |url=https://splvpn.com/bypass-internet-censorship-saudi-arabia-using-vpn/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |language=en-US}}
See also
References
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