In Sudan, WhatsApp voice and video calling services have been suspended due to security concerns.
The Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (TPRA) stated that the decision was made as a precautionary measure to counter potential security threats and to safeguard national security. The restriction will remain in place until further notice.
Despite the ban, some users are still able to bypass the restriction using Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications. VPNs mask users’ IP addresses and encrypt their internet traffic, allowing them to circumvent such blocks.
WhatsApp has faced similar restrictions in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, and Iran. In China, both the calling and messaging features of WhatsApp are largely blocked.
One of the main reasons behind such restrictions is that WhatsApp is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), a company with a history of privacy controversies. These incidents have led to growing public skepticism about the app’s security.
For instance, in 2019, NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used to target journalists and activists via a WhatsApp vulnerability, sparking global outrage.
Additionally, WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update raised serious concerns, as it suggested that user data could potentially be shared with Meta—triggering widespread backlash and debate.