Egypt considers banning Viber, WhatsApp

[DJKeefy]

Egypt plans to block widely-used applications Viber and WhatsApp on economic and security concerns, a state telecommunication senior official tells Ahram Online on Saturday.

Head of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Amr Badawy said a committee has been formed to monitor those mobile applications and will decide whether to ban, allow free usage or restrict them somehow.

"These applications allow subscribers to make free calls, messages and share files while their sources remain unknown. Pre-paid applications will face losses," Badawy explained.

WhatsApp is a very popular app that allows for free chatting, while Viber allows for free international phone calls. Viber, one of the top cell phone apps, was developed by an Israeli company.

Recently Saudi Arabia's telecom regulator banned the web-based communication application, saying it is difficult for the state to monitor and deprives licensed telecom companies of revenue from international calls and texts.

"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," a statement reads on the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) website.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/73465.aspx

[DJKeefy]

There not exactly free when you have to pay for data plans which are expensive for the amount of megabytes you get. What will be next? Facebook, Twitter, Skype....

[LivinginLuxor]

"Viber, one of the top cell phone apps, was developed by an Israeli company." - maybe that's the reason!

[Chocolate Eclair]

I am sure you are right DJ, the social networks will be next, thank god for that, people will not be so eager to use them to spew evil and rubbish!!

At the end of the day if Egypt does ban these items then all you can say is, "That's Democracy for You" albeit one way traffic!!

[Hafiz]

The Israeli connection could be accidental or based on the fact that they have one of the most advanced communications/IT industries in the world.

You will probably 'like' my example of their skills in this area. When Rupert Murdoch was having problems with 'hacking' of his satellite signals he established a company in Israel composed of ex-spooks to develop encryption technology. Its now a world leader and the now cash-strapped 'digger' has sold out at a huge profit.

Few will be surprised that the digger used this IT firm to hack into and attack the technology of his competitors. But this is well off point.

There are lost of military analysts who say, when interviewed for a big line, that hacking of a countries systems, including power and water grids, could cause war or be used by a militarily inferior power, say China, to 'level the playing field' in the event that conflict breaks out.

You can probably be sure that Israel knows all the numbers to dial in the middle east and that your best protection against its cyber attack would be a low technology military - which is where Egypt is probably well placed.

[Dusak]

I am sure you are right DJ, the social networks will be next, thank god for that, people will not be so eager to use them to spew evil and rubbish!!

You left the door wide open for that one Keefy.