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Viber banned in Saudi Arabia

Viber users in Saudi Arabia were dealt a blow when the popular Internet messenger application was suspended on Wednesday. In March, the Communications and Information Technology Commission warned Viber, Skype and WhatsApp that it would take “appropriate action” if local monitoring servers were not provided.

Some interpreted the move as an act of political censorship while others pointed to the potential business motivations of Saudi telecom competitors like Zain.

“The Viber application has been suspended … and the (regulator) affirms it will take appropriate action against any other applications or services if they fail to comply with regulatory requirements and rules in force in the kingdom,” the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said in a statement on its website.

Viber allows subscribers to make free calls, send instant messages and share files over the internet. CITC did not explain what regulatory requirements and rules it breached, but the kingdom appears to be pushing for greater control over cyberspace as Internet and smart phone usage soars.

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