Quote from: zasad@ on Today at 10:58:58 AM

Quote from: coupable on June 26, 2025, 08:41:51 PM

Quote from: zasad@ on June 26, 2025, 11:40:15 AM

Quote from: coupable on June 25, 2025, 03:53:38 PM

From what I've heard from friends who live there permanently, all of these apps are legally banned because they don't have a license to operate. The government filters them so that regular users can't use most of popular texting apps, forcing them to install a VPN on all their devices for a monthly subscription. However, it's easy to see that this ban doesn't help at all because everyone uses a VPN.
In Qatar, for example, WhatsApp is essential for all businesses and provides a great service. However, it can only be used via a VPN, and those who can't use it resort to the IMO messaging app. There may be other reasons we're not aware of, but I don't think they're valid.

The funny thing is that messages via WhatsApp and Telegram can be sent without a VPN, but calls don't work anymore. If the ban is formal and no one is fighting it, then there is no ban.
I have not seen or heard of anyone checking people's phones for illegal apps in these countries.
If you fly to Russia, your phone and correspondence can be checked, and there are people at customs who know English, Arabic and other languages.

They probably think they're fighting privacy apps, but in a rather naive way. Apps like Telegram allow you to permanently erase messages and chats, so blocking voice chats makes no sense. Furthermore, the authorities know that everyone uses VPNs because of the discussing apps increasing popularity. What I can understand is that citizens aren't banned from using these apps, but the government wants to direct them to use specific alternatives. However, I doubt this approach has been very successful, given the size and the expanding growth of the market.

And what local messenger do citizens use?
I noticed that WhatsApp is very popular there, Telegram is used by fewer people.
To register in WhatsApp, you need a phone number, and even if you use a VPN, it will not ensure privacy

There is no other explanation for why authorities would limit the features of messaging apps. What's even stranger is that Messenger app from Meta is allowed, while the features of WhatsApp, also from the same company, are limited. In any case, these measures are meaningless in reality, given that people use all the apps. In the age of the free internet, imposing such restrictions is absurd, especially when no alternatives are offered.