Use a VPN to VoIP bypass the ban in the UAE and you could get fined up to $ 544k

Use a VPN to VoIP bypass the ban in the UAE and you could get fined up to $ 544k -

many of the UAE (wAter) residents who use a VPN to bypass the VoIP ban may soon be in the incredibly hot water. The VoIP ban means the phone features in popular applications such as WhatsApp, Viber and Snapchat calling are inaccessible in the UAE when using an IP address UAE. The VoIP ban is performed by the two major UAE carriers, Etislat and who are also coincidentally the only two companies in the world with VoIP UAE coveted license that allows them to legally operate VoIP services 10x charge that Skype does. Of course, Internet users in the UAE have discovered that VPNs are an effective way to get past this ban VoIP and have continually used the VPN and proxies from within the UAE for years.

Last week, the President of the UAE, known locally as His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has issued two new laws. One of them, the federal law No. 12/2016, provides for fines for anyone using a VPN or proxy in connection with a crime online. The new law will change the official wording of the Telecommunications Act to say:

"Anyone using fraudulent computer network protocol address (IP address) using a false address or a third address by any other means for the purpose of committing a crime or prevent its discovery, shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine of not less than Dh500,000 and not exceeding Dh2,000,000, or one of both. "

current USD rate changes, resulting in a potential $ 544,521.48 fine.

Previously, understanding the law of the UAE was that Internet VPN or proxy use would be prosecuted under the Telecommunications Act if it was used in another crime - this is now going to be put right with a fixed amount of mandatory prison sentences. Now with the latest laws promulgated by President Khalifa, it is OK for police to go after the UAE that individual VPN users for any criminal offense. At present, such crimes include access to blocked websites or services that can not be done with a VPN or proxy, use the UAE considers fraudulent use of an IP address. This means looking at pornography (a worry for tourists) and call home on VoIP services without license (a concern for most residents of the UAE) as WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Snapchat. Internet users in the UAE, especially large immigrant labor masses, use VPN services to get past this geographic ban VoIP to talk to friends and relatives at home.

88% of the UAE population affected by the ban VoIP and VPN clients are potential

Let's be clear - this new law does not change the type of man roaming business that stops Dubai. However, the real victims of this new law will be the millions of migrant workers who have come to rely on the use of VPN to access the free VoIP. VOIP services officially recognized those offered by Etislat and have already proven to be prohibitively expensive for the average internet user UAE. How many migrants with relatives abroad are there in the United Arab Emirates who can not afford the official prices VoIP?

The Economist from 2015, immigrants from around the world represented 88% of the total population of the UAE. working immigrants who by definition must send money and communication at home. To avoid the VoIP ban, millions of immigrants are using VPN or free proxies to regain access to free VoIP services.

How does Skype make it through the VoIP ban?

Earlier this year, April, Skype phone calling feature has finally been released by Etislat and. The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has even stated that the use of Skype recently not prohibited is not punishable under the Telecommunications Act, but access to blocked websites or services remains illegal. With the implementation of the new pricing structure to punish VPN users, the government clearly intends to push all VoIP users C'me of the Hello! Or Skype Etislat precisely because they are the three centralized communication services and unencrypted nodding in the UAE all the requirements of the invading privacy.

since the UAE politicians have long recognized that the VoIP ban nationwide is done to counteract the loss of income for the vast telecommunications industry (and also for waves cybersecurity reasons) it is difficult to have sympathy for telecommunication duopoly UAE. Telecommunications companies worldwide have achieved since the free VoIP services offered by third parties use a lot of data, as telecoms are still paid. In Morocco, the government also blocks VoIP providers, but has yet to try to curb the use of VPN associated with exorbitant fines. Hopefully, together minded countries do not follow the route of the UAE.

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