WhatsApp News: Brazil Bans App Once Again For Users Accused Of Drug Trafficking

WhatsApp has been shut down in Brazil on Monday, affecting a total of 100 million users. The move was ordered by the government, which led to a collective anguish from Brazilians as the messaging service has played an important role in their daily communications.

The popular messaging service WhatsApp has been blocked to half of Brazil's population for 72 hours on Monday following the order from Marcel Maia Montalvão, the same judge who instructed the detainment of Diego Dzodan, Facebook's VP for Latin America. On Monday, WhatsApp has been blocked by the five biggest wireless carriers in the country for three days. Failure by any Brazilian service provider to comply would mean paying a penalty fine of about $142,000 US per day.  

The shutdown in Brazil arises from the similar current dispute between WhatsApp and Facebook against the Brazilian authorities, which have continually insisted that both companies must coordinate with criminal investigations by giving the personal information and communications of Brazilian WhatsApp users being suspected of drug trafficking.

Facebook and WhatsApp have previously repeatedly explained to the Brazilian courts that compliance with such orders is not possible because the communications of the app are completely encrypted and beyond the company's reach. WhatsApp spokesperson expressed their frustration over the second shutdown of the app in the country for the past months. Brazil also banned the said app for 48 hours in December and was lifted after 12 hours.  

Whatsapp spokersperson also added that after coordinating to  the full scope of their capacity with the local authorities, they are saddened by the fact that a judge has ordered again to block the app in Brazil. The decision is expected to affect over 100 million of Brazilian users who are using the messaging service in their businesses, as well as in their daily communications, signalling the start of an online privacy battle in Brazil.