JEDDAH: Saudi users of Internet messenger application Viber reported yesterday that the service was back on their smartphones, despite the authorities insisting it was still banned.
The absolute monarchy banned the service in June after Viber failed to comply with unspecified regulations.
“I received an update from the Apple Store, so I updated the application and it worked,” said iPhone user Haifa Salim.
“The service is back with no problems,” said Khaled Mohammed, also after installing a Viber update.
But the Communications and Information Technology Commission said the ban remains in place.
“There may be some illegal way of providing the application by the Viber company to get round the ban, but the commission is dealing with that,” said CITC spokesman Sultan Al Malek.
“The CITC has not lifted the ban as the company has not complied with the requirements of the commission.”
AFP
