WhatsApp is the world’s most most used instant messaging app. With about 1.6 billion users, WhatsApp is used in 190 countries. However, while many individual and businesses enjoy the benefits of WhatsApp in their countries, the instant messaging platform is not available in some countries and some of its features are restricted in certain countries. We take a look at some countries that have banned WhatsApp or where you can’t use some features of the app.
China
WhatsApp was censored/blocked by the Chinese Government sometime in 2017 and since then it hasn’t been been uncensored. Reports say that since WhatsApp was censored, users have been receiving messages late and not in real time.
Some believe that the service was censored in the country due to its strong encryption features which limits the Chinese government’s ability to snoop into it’s citizen’s chats.
On the other hand, other reports say that the Chinese Government censored WhatsApp in the country to promote the use of WeChat, which it can snoop.
North Korea
In North Korea as well, WhatsApp services is blocked. Reports have it that the app’s end-to-endencryption limits the ability of the government to keep track of communications in the country.
If you’ve got plans to visit any of the countries listed above, perhaps for vacation or work, you should research some alternative apps other than WhatsApp. Some folks use VPNs to evade the bans and restrictions.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
When in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you can not make video or voice calls via WhatsApp. This is because the UAE wants to promote telecommunication services based in the country and ultimately increase the country’s fiscus.
Update: Initially, we had said that WhatsApp was blocked in Iran & Syria but we later found out that it’s not.
i am in iran and i can use WhatsApp !
The information here is wrong. People in Syria are allowed to use Whatsapp with normal voice and video calls as well.
Stop posting fake news.
Yah this is fake news
Hi.Thanks I’ve updated the article
You can make audio and video calls from the UAE, as well.
Ummmmm in UAE you can’t. Take a look at this article: https://gulfbusiness.com/uae-gets-new-video-calling-app-voip-restrictions-skype-whatsapp-continue/
There’s nothing to argue about here. I am talking from experience, not from hearsay. Ask someone who has been there recently. Or, even better, ask someone who is currently there. So that you don’t claim, things could have changed since I was last there.
It is blocked in UAE. Not WhatsApp but call n video chatting thru WA. There might be exception, when ppl use VPN or other methods, all of which are also banned. I live in Dubai.
Using VPN
In Dubai now, this article is not true all.
It is entirely true. WhatsApp calls are not allowed in Dubai
Good knowledge
Good knowledge keep it up
Hey…
It’s a completely fake news…
I’ve some friends in these countries and they also use what’s app…
I LIVE IN IRAN..
They use VPN to go pass the censoring.
How true is that, because I teach people how to use WhatsApp in any country over here https://affiliateincomeinfo.com and I have not heard about this before. I have many indian friend and we chat real time.
But keep it up bro, nice work your doing
I don’t think this is true. I have many friends living in those countries and we chat regularly with whatsapp
China ppl use VPN for whatsapp whereas in UAE you can chat but can’t use Voice Call of Whatsapp
Im from iran and i know that’s not banned in iran
Also in qatar you cannot make phone calls from whatsapp