A judge in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has recently ordered a WhatsApp shutdown for 48 hours. WhatsApp is the preferred messaging app in Brazil, with close to 100 million users.
WhatsApp owner Facebook is not taking this ruling lying down. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that they are working hard to get the WhatsApp block in Brazil reversed.
“We are working hard to get this block reversed. Until then, Facebook Messenger is still active and you can use it to communicate instead,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.
He said that this is a sad day for Brazil. “Until today, Brazil has been an ally in creating an open internet. Brazilians have always been among the most passionate in sharing their voice online,” said Zuckerberg.
“I am stunned that our efforts to protect people’s data would result in such an extreme decision by a single judge to punish every person in Brazil who uses WhatsApp.”
He said that he hopes that the Brazilian courts quickly reverse course.
