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Countries That Have Blocked or Restricted WhatsApp

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WhatsApp has faced restrictions in several countries, ranging from complete bans to partial or temporary limitations.

Fully Blocked:

  • China: Blocking started in 2017 via the Great Firewall. Users rely on WeChat instead.

  • North Korea: WhatsApp is generally inaccessible alongside Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and other platforms since 2016.

Partial Block / VoIP Restrictions:

  • Russia: Began restricting some WhatsApp calls in 2025 due to Meta’s failure to share information in fraud and terrorism cases.

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE): VoIP services were banned in 2017, though text messaging remains functional. Calls were temporarily allowed during Expo Dubai in 2020.

  • Qatar: VoIP calls restricted; messaging works normally.

  • Egypt: No full ban on calls, but authorities have attempted to throttle them.

  • Jordan: VoIP call restrictions in place.

Intermittent or Temporary Bans:

  • Iran: Previously banned, lifted restrictions last year as part of broader internet policy changes.

  • Turkey: No current ban, but WhatsApp has been blocked in the past over domestic issues.

  • Uganda: Banned WhatsApp in 2021 as retaliation for Facebook restrictions, now lifted.

  • Cuba: Temporarily restricted social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, in 2021.

  • United States: WhatsApp is banned on all U.S. House of Representatives devices as of June 2025.

These restrictions vary widely, often targeting VoIP calls rather than text messaging, and can be temporary or intermittent depending on local regulations.