Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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

Posted by msmash on from the what's-going-on dept.

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.

5 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. "The reason for the order was not known" by by+(1706743) · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm sure this doesn't have anything to do with it...

  2. US surrendering control of the Internet by mi · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Just a reminder, that the US seems on track to surrender its control of the Internet to an "International Body" — despite some lawmakers trying to prevent the Administration from doing it.

    Countries like this — and even worse ones, where citizens' access is already tightly controlled or where "hate speech" is illegal — will now have more say over how the Network is run.

    (If you were going to reply pointing out, FBI's attempt to unlock a dead terrorist's iPhone is "just as bad" — don't...)

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  3. Just plain extortion by randomErr · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My guess is that Brazilian authorities want personal information on a citizen from Facebook and Facebook will not comply. I hope the judge is ready for the repercussions of his decision. If this goes through I look for mass protests and the call for the removal of the judge. There is almost no way Facebook can't come out this smelling like a rose.

    --
    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  4. Re:monkey business by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Probably not. Everyone knows you can run your apps over wifi. Blocking it at the carrier won't work. Now are they going to block ALL internet access? Good luck with that.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  5. Brazilian judges are egocentric ignorants by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A judge in Brazil usually are an ignorant and (very) egocentric monkey, unable to understand the logic and reason do not bend to the whims of it. They are the picture of a country still in the Middle Ages where authority think his word is divine law and can never be questioned.

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time