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Saudia Arabia will lift a 2013 ban on Internet calling services:
Saudi Arabia will lift a ban on internet phone calls, a government spokesman said, part of efforts to attract more business to the country. All online voice and video call services such as Microsoft's Skype and Facebook's WhatsApp that satisfy regulatory requirements will become accessible at midnight (2100 GMT), Adel Abu Hameed, spokesman for the telecoms regulator CITC said on Twitter on Wednesday.
The policy reversal represents part of the Saudi government's broad reforms to diversify the economy partly in response to low oil prices, which have hit the country's finances. "Digital transformation is one of the key kick-starters for the Saudi economy, as it will incentivise the growth of internet-based businesses, especially in the media and entertainment industries," a statement from the information ministry said. "Access to VoIP (voice over internet protocol) will reduce operational costs and spur digital entrepreneurship – that's why it is such an important step in the Kingdom's internet regulation," it said.
Perhaps they found the backdoors.
Also at TechCrunch.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday September 21 2017, @04:05PM (1 child)
Well there's the rub right there.
I'm betting any layer of encryption users might want to wrap the voice call in is not going to meed requirements.
I wonder if mankind will ever shake off this idea that government must be a party to every conversation.
I also wonder when or if people will realize that having the Judiciary as part of the Government means there is never going to be any protection of civil liberties.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @12:57PM
Would you rather have judiciary as part of the clergy?