Censorship of Skype in China and Beyond

In China, Skype was blocked in 2009 due to its encryption technology, which made it difficult for authorities to intercept communications.

The Chinese government has been known to require foreign companies to install a "Great Firewall" to censor online content, which is why Skype was initially blocked.

Skype's encryption technology was seen as a threat to the government's ability to monitor online activities.

The ban was lifted in 2014, but the service remains heavily censored in China, with many features and services unavailable to users.

Skype's popularity among dissidents and activists in China was likely a contributing factor to the initial ban.

The Chinese government's actions against Skype are part of a larger trend of censorship in the country, affecting many online services and platforms.

Skype has been forced offline in China, joining the lengthening list of internet communication tools on China's blacklist.

Apple was ordered to clear its download store of apps that violate national laws, including Skype. These apps remain available in all other markets where they do business.

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Skype's disappearance from the App Store came to light on Tuesday as Apple told two US senators that it had removed 674 VPN apps so far this year, at the request of the Chinese government.

China has increased scrutiny of internet applications this year, ordering firms to remove hundreds of apps that allow users to communicate confidentially or get around China's so-called "Great Firewall" system of censorship and use overseas social media.

Skype is no longer available for download on the China Apple Store or Android sites, with Chinese web-users saying it had been gone for weeks.

Chinese authorities appeared to severely disrupt the WhatsApp messaging app as they ratcheted up security ahead of a Communist Party congress in October that saw President Xi Jinping consolidate his hold on the country.

Skype Business, a separate app tailored more for corporate use, was still available for download.

China has tightened its already stringent online policing this year, including enacting new rules that require tech companies to store user data inside the country as well as imposing new restrictions on what is permissible content.

The Chinese Skype is now using servers located outside the country, but it isn't a guarantee the Chinese government still can't access them.

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GreatFire praised Microsoft for making this change, saying it was a harbinger of change to come not just from Microsoft but from all major internet players.

The latest version of Skype in China will reportedly be available for Windows 8.1 and earlier versions of Mac OS X, Android, and iOS.

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The UAE's ban on Skype is a threat to intellectual freedom. NYU Abu Dhabi students have been blocked from making computer-to-landline calls using Skype.

This block is part of a larger issue in the UAE, where the government is increasingly restrictive of Voice Over Internet Protocol services. NYUAD students were previously able to use NYU and VPN proxies to make these calls.

Two telecommunication companies, Etisalat and du, operate in UAE and have been shifting the blame for the Skype block to each other and to the government. There's no definite time for how long Skype has been blocked, and blocking has been happening on and off for a year or so now.

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Skype and similar services are often used by students and faculty for communication and educational purposes. NYUAD professor Claude Desplan uses Skype extensively for classes and lab meetings.

The UAE's censorship of VoIP services is not surprising, given the country's history of censoring media and imprisoning citizens over online comments. NYUAD has yet to officially comment on the situation.

NYU's presence in Abu Dhabi has been criticized for labor law violations, and the university's funding depends entirely on the government of Abu Dhabi. The university's cooperation with the UAE needs to include an agreement to allow all forms of open communication on campus.

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Microsoft has updated its Service Agreement, which affects services like Skype, to include a ban on "offensive language."

The updated rules are set to go into effect on May 1st.

Microsoft claims it has no interest in monitoring all its services, which is the only way consensual but "offensive" content could be feasibly flagged.

The definition of "offensive content" is neither defined by the law nor the objection of a party involved.

This vagueness is concerning, as it could apply to private, legal conversations between consenting adults.

Microsoft's updated rules also outline its right to review content as part of an investigation and potentially forfeit credits and subscription time attached to an affected account.

This change coincides with the passage of SESTA/FOSTA, a bill opposed by sex workers and speech advocates alike, which makes it easier for individuals to sue websites for allegedly facilitating sex trafficking.