A Brazilian judge on Monday issued a 72-hour ban on WhatsApp chat service throughout Brazil. The measure which took effect at 2 p.m. was issued on April 26 following a failed 2013 access order from a branch of civil police that investigates criminal activity online. Failure to comply will subject carriers to a fine of 500,000 reals per day (approx. $140,000 per day). WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in Brazil — world's fourth-largest smartphone market. According to Facebook (WhatsApp owner), approximately half of the country's 200 million people use its free text and voice messaging functions regularly.
"After cooperating with the full extent of our ability with the Brazilian courts, we are disappointed that a judge of Sergipe decided to again order the WhatsApp block in Brazil. This punishes decision over 100 million people who depend on our service to communicate, manage its affairs and more, to force us to deliver information that stated repeatedly that we do not ", says the company.