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A comment on WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers.

Re:WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers by subliminalpanda on Wednesday July 13, 2016 @03:19PM (#12088877)
WhatApp does the same for UAE numbers. If I initiate a call to my sister who lives in UAE I get an error saying that "Whatsapp calling is unavailable in the UAE" or something along those lines.

We worked around it by installing Signal, but she needs a VPN to be able to access it since it's completely blocked in the UAE (as well as Oman).

We get around this by texting each other before hand on whatsapp with the keyword "vpn" and then talk to each other over Signal. Quite the hassle.

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Re:WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers by lorenzofb on Wednesday July 13, 2016 @03:45PM (#12089088)
Do you have screenshots of this error? If so, do you mind emailing me? [email protected] (I'm a reporter at VICE Motherboard, btw)
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Re:WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers by jlgaddis on Wednesday July 13, 2016 @04:00PM (#12089175)
The OP included a screenshot [0].

[0]: http://i.imgur.com/rQu9Ocf.jpg

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Re:WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers by Raed667 on Wednesday July 13, 2016 @03:22PM (#12088891)
Why not VPN all the time?
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Re:WhatsApp Blocking Encrypted Calls to All Saudi Numbers by subliminalpanda on Wednesday July 13, 2016 @03:27PM (#12088929)
The always-on VPN on iOS can be flaky at times, especially if you try to use public wifis with captive portals.
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