Discord is a communication tool that was built for gamers. Now, it has transitioned into a communication hub for students, friends, and even corporations. But despite the positive feedback, Discord is banned in multiple countries.
This idea might be new to you as Discord is growing in popularity every day. Yet in this article, we will talk about which countries are Discord banned and why is it banned.
Which Countries Is Discord Banned In
Mainland China, North Korea, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, and Iran has banned Discord. However, the popular app still has users who access the app through VPNs and other means.
There are risks in using Discord in these countries. The laws and regulations when it comes to censorship are strictly enforced so it is highly recommended to look for Discord alternatives instead.
Why Is Discord Banned In These Countries
The countries that have banned Discord have something in common. They have an authoritarian government in nature. These countries see Discord as a threat to their censorship policies because different ideas and opinions are shared through the app.
For instance, mainland China, North Korea, Iran, UAE, and Oman implement a censorship policy on their Internet. These countries try hard to limit which information gets into their state.
Discord is becoming a central hub of communication and sharing of information. Thus, these countries need to see which sites are accessible. This is the reason why Facebook is banned in these countries as well.
Moreover, these countries have also banned multiple Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services such as Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facetime.
Why is Discord Banned In The United Arab Emirates
Discord was originally accessible by users from The United Arab Emirates. However, it was totally banned last 2020. This is no surprise as UAE is known to block and filter online content that enters the country.
The United Arab Regulatory Network says that Discord is banned because it is an unregulated VoIP platform.
Two state telecom companies are allowed in the UAE. These companies only allow their VoIP apps – BOTIM, Hiu Messenger, and C’Me. Voico UAE is another option however it is unstable when used without WiFi.
Allowing Discord, which is free to use, would then impact the revenue of these companies. In turn, it will affect the country’s budget.
How To Access Discord From The UAE
Discord is accessible through the use of a VPN. But this is risky as it is illegal to bypass the ban and access Discord. UAE is strict when it comes to this policy and if you are caught using a VPN to access banned sites, you will be punished by the law.
Another word of precaution. Downloading a VPN while inside the UAE might trigger surveillance of your network. Thus, it is better to download a VPN while you are out of the country.
Using VPNs is legal in UAE. But using it to skirt around UAE laws is frowned upon. Besides, you are under their sovereignty so following the laws would be the ideal move.
When Was Discord Banned In China And Why
Discord is banned in China back in 2018 because it does not follow Chinese regulations. The Chinese government is an authoritarian political system and it does not allow any Western influence from reaching its people.
The Chinese government also has legislation that bans multiple websites. The country even has its own social media websites such as Weibo.
Besides, other social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit are all banned in China so it is not new that Discord is banned.
Fortunately, Macau and Hong Kong are not included in the ban. All thanks to the “one country, two systems” policy, these territories have different rules when it comes to censorship and internet regulation.
Should You Use VPNs To Access Discord In China
Not at all. Despite being legal in China, VPNs in the country are regulated heavily by the government. There are government-compliant VPNs though that would technically allow access to Discord. However, doing so is not recommended.
China has a lot of alternatives when it comes to VoIP apps. But if you insist to use Discord, then know that you are risking yourself by doing so.
How To Use A VPN To Access Discord In China And Other Banned Countries
The only way to access Discord in China and other banned countries such as UAE, Oman, Egypt, and Iran is through the use of a VPN or Virtual Private Network. VPNs work by rerouting your network traffic to make it seem like you are from a different place.
Here are the steps in using a VPN to access Discord in China, UAE, and other banned countries. But as mentioned earlier, there are risks in doing so.
- Download a VPN such as ExpressVPN.
- You will have to sign-up and select a plan that works for you.
- Once inside the app, connect to a server.
- Have fun accessing Discord in China, UAE, and other countries.
VPNs in general work similarly. You will have to select a server, connect to it and you are good to go.
As mentioned earlier, there is a risk in downloading the VPN if you are already in China. The same goes if you are coming from the UAE and other countries. It is better to have the VPN installed before you step foot in the aforementioned states.
Lastly, there are free VPN apps available today. Some of them are browser extensions. However, free VPNs are not reliable when it comes to accessing Discord in China. These VPNs have limited capabilities and do not protect your data as a great paid VPN does.
What Else Can You Do With A VPN
Virtual Private Networks allow access to restricted content in one country or another.
For example, Netflix has region-locked shows. This means that if you are from the United States and a show is only available in Southeast Asia (SEA), that show will not appear in your Netflix library. It will only show up if you switch your region to SEA through the use of a VPN.
Another advantage of using a VPN is to keep your network private. Using a VPN prevents hackers or malicious users from accessing your network.
VPNs also encrypt data. If you are transferring sensitive data then a VPN is highly recommended to prevent spies from knowing what you are sending.
Is Discord Secure
Discord has security features such as two-factor authorization and phone verification. However, it does not have end-to-end encryption as other apps do. This means it is still susceptible to hackers and bots.
There are other secure options though such as Telegram, Signal, and Whatsapp. Use these apps if you send sensitive information regularly.
Despite the lack of end-to-end encryption, Discord has continuous security updates to keep the app secure. It even has a bug bounty program to encourage people from reporting vulnerabilities.
Hopefully, Discord gets end-to-end encryption soon now that it has millions of users every day.
Wrapping Up
Discord is banned in China, Iran, UAE, Egypt, North Korea, and Oman. It is still accessible through VPNs but there are risks involved and you do not want to get caught breaking laws in these countries. Use alternatives, if possible, for your safety and as a sign of respect for the laws of these states.
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