Many companies, as well as educational institutes, are utilizing Skype for remote communications and to coordinate with colleagues while working from home. However, they cannot be accessed in some countries without a Skype VPN. But, never has the world found VoIP services like Skype more valuable than in the current Coronavirus pandemic which has halted the whole world. The governments of the UAE, Oman, and Qatar should unblock all VoIP platforms including WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime immediately and permanently, as well as to make concerted efforts to give people access to an open, secure, and reliable internet connection.The utility of Skype for personal as well as business is something we’ve taken for granted. The Gulf governments should not take any chances when it comes to containing this pandemic and protecting all who live within their borders. Members of the migrant worker community and those who cannot afford to make long-distance calls will be disproportionately affected. In addition, platforms that provide Over-the- Top (OTT) services are often cheaper when compared to pay-as-you-use services, such as SMS and long-distance calls. Denying the Gulf population access to these platforms puts people at serious risk, as this cuts them off from their communities abroad and the resources they need in times of such crisis. Many organizations including the World Health Organization, as well as governments, are currently using WhatsApp chatbots and other platforms to disseminate information. These restrictions have a severe impact on people’s fundamental rights of freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information. However, popular VoIP apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime remain blocked despite persistent calls from citizens and residents living in the three countries to allow the use of these apps in light of the public health crisis. Microsoft Teams and Zoom are also available in Qatar. The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, for example, has unblocked, on an “exceptional” and temporary basis, apps that allow for distance learning such as Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, Google Hangouts, and Zoom. In response to the spread of COVID-19, the UAE and Oman have relaxed some restrictions on some of these VoIP apps and platforms. Even citizens at home connect to members of their families abroad via VoIP. This has caused serious problems for the people living in those countries, especially the majority of migrant workers and foreign national residents who need to connect and communicate with their families and communities overseas. Such a sweeping ban cannot be justified, given the impact it has.
Gulf countries have for a long time banned voice and video internet call apps and platforms under the pretext of protecting the economic interests of national telecommunication companies. In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic outbreak, we, the undersigned organizations, urge the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Oman to permanently lift the ban on all Voice Over IP (VoIP) platforms used for voice and video internet calls. (Beirut) – Human Rights Watch joined 28 other organizations today in issuing this statement about the need to unblock Voice Over IP platforms for voice and video internet calls:
However, in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman, bans on Voice Over IP (VoIP) platforms, have prevented people living in these countries from using these apps to communicate with their families and communities overseas, and have restricted their fundamental rights of privacy and access to information.
In the face of coronavirus lockdowns around the world, people have turned to a wide range of apps, such as Skype, WhatsApp, or Apple's FaceTime to stay in touch.
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