Brazil Judge Orders Phone Carriers To Block WhatsApp Message App (reuters.com)

A Brazilian judge has ordered wireless phone carriers to block access to Facebook's WhatsApp indefinitely, starting on Tuesday, the third such incident against the popular phone messaging app in eight months. Reuters report: The decision by Judge Daniela Barbosa Assuncao de Souza in the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro applies to Brazil's five wireless carriers. The reason for the order was not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case, and will only be lifted once Facebook surrenders data, Souza's office said. Sao Paulo-based representatives at WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook Inc, as well as the Brazilian five carriers -- Telefonica Brasil SA, America Movil SAB's Claro, TIM Participacoes SA, Oi SA and Nextel Participacoes SA.

Comments

"Blocked". What does "blocked" mean in this case?

[idontgno]

How are they going to "block" this app?

Prevent WhatsApp traffic from transiting phone carrier networks? Doesn't affect Wi-Fi, then. Prevent WhatsApp traffic from transiting any network? That would need the Great Wall of Amazonia, which doesn't exist. Any traffic to WhatsApp servers? By IP block? By routing blackhole? By DNS block? That might work if they can get every net provider to agree. Until the next version incorporates a workaround.

Maybe the judge has no idea, and neither do the folks who are supposed to implement it.

Re: "The reason for the order was not known"

[Opportunist]

"Hello Brazilians,

Unfortunately we cannot provide our service to you anymore. In case you're wondering why, it's because of this judge. He lives here. This is his phone number. If you don't agree with his decision, maybe tell him how you feel about it.

--signed, Mark Z."