Saudi Arabia may block access to popular Internet messaging applications like Skype , Viber and WhatsApp if telecommunication providers there do n't comply with rules and regulatory conditions , according to the country 's official news agency , SPA . A statement from Saudi Arabia 's Communications and Information Technology Commission released via SPA read , `` The Commission emphasizes that it will take appropriate action regarding these applications and services in the event of failure to meet those conditions . '' The statement did not address how the applications in question -- which allow Internet users to communicate with each other via text messages and voice calls -- were violating any rules , but it did highlight the need for service providers in the country to quickly `` work with the developers of these applications to meet regulatory requirements . '' Sunday 's announcement came in response to local media reports last week claiming the CITC , the country 's telecommunications regulator , had asked Saudi telecom companies to allow the government to monitor those applications and had given them until Saturday to respond . Despite repeated attempts , CNN was unable to reach the CITC or any of Saudi Arabia 's three mobile providers ( Saudi Telecom Co. , Zain Group and Mobily ) for comment . Sunday 's move was met with derision by many Saudi social media users . `` The sense that I get is weariness , '' said Eman Al-Nafjan , one of Saudi Arabia 's most prominent bloggers , while describing the online reaction she 's encountered so far . `` A shrugging shoulders -- as if it 's typical . '' `` I 'm not angry , just a little surprised that the Saudi government has n't advanced beyond this type of tactic , '' added Al-Nafjan , who tweets as Saudiwoman . `` I thought that they were better able to do this without resorting to have to threaten banning applications . '' Still , Al-Nafjan told CNN she 's not surprised by the timing of the announcement . `` I believe a big part of the reason why this is happening ... is because lots of demonstrations that were organized in Saudi Arabia were done through the use of WhatsApp , '' explained Al-Nafjan , citing recent small-scale demonstrations calling for the release of political prisoners . In Saudi Arabia , an absolute monarchy , protests are prohibited . Sixty percent of the country 's population is under the age of 30 and Internet usage there is soaring . `` A lot of human rights activists that communicate in Saudi Arabia do so using WhatsApp , '' added Al-Nafjan . `` And women 's rights movement members are communicating using WhatsApp . '' Al-Nafjan said Saudi activists felt safer communicating using applications like WhatsApp and Skype , as they are encrypted . According to Christopher Davidson , author of the book `` After the Sheikhs : The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies , '' the Saudi government has grown increasingly concerned about the rising tide of dissent being expressed by Saudi online activists of late . Davidson explained Saudi authorities would be looking for a way to monitor these applications because they are `` prime examples of modernizing technologies which can not be co-opted and controlled by national governments and their security apparatus . '' `` In the past we 've had these voice-to-voice networks being blocked , '' said Davidson . `` Sometimes for economic reasons , trying to protect state telecommunications monopolies . And that 's certainly been an issue in the past -- the blocking of Skype in some of the Gulf monarchies . But now I think it 's quite clear ... that it 's the social and political use of this media that 's most alarming . '' For Al-Nafjan , the move is a `` waste of time . '' `` People will know it 's not safe and move to another application , '' said Al-Nafjan . `` The same thing happened with BlackBerry . '' Saudi authorities threatened to ban BlackBerry service in the kingdom in 2010 , accusing the company of not complying with regulations . The CITC demanded the company install local servers so the service could be censored . An agreement was eventually reached but it is not known what steps were taken by the manufacturer of the Canadian smartphone in order to do so . `` People who are aware know that it 's not that big of a deal even if these applications are blocked , '' explained Al-Nafjan . `` The issue is if they ban the Internet or if they do n't provide Internet sevices . As long as the Internet is available , there 's no way that they can end freedom of speech -- it 's gone beyond the point of no return . ''
Saudi communications regulation agency threatens to block apps like Skype , WhatsApp . Agency says the apps must comply with rules , but does n't say what rules they 're breaking . Reports last week said telecoms were asked to let government monitor communications . A Saudi blogger says the move may be because the apps are used to organize protests .