CITC wants access to independent messaging platforms

Saudi Arabia’s telecom regulator, CITC, has threatened to block voice-over-IP apps such as Skype, WhatsApp and Viber over security concerns, according to Al Arabiya.

CITC is pushing the country’s mobile operators to work with the app providers so that messaging can be monitored.

The operators have been given until the end of this week by the regulator to respond, the report said. If they do not come up with a means to enable surveillance then the regulator will consider blocking the apps altogether.