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WhatsApp in Brazil temporarily suspended WhatsApp in Brazil back in action after suspension
(about 17 hours later)
WhatsApp was temporarily suspended in Brazil after a judge said the company had failed to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation. The WhatsApp messaging service in Brazil is operating again after it was temporarily suspended for failing to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation.
The third suspension in two years lasted for a few hours, affecting millions of users. The third suspension in two years lasted for a few hours, affecting some 100 million users.
But Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski later lifted the nationwide blockage, saying it was disproportionate. But Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski later lifted the nationwide blockage, calling it disproportionate.
WhatsApp said they did not have access to the details requested.WhatsApp said they did not have access to the details requested.
The most recent suspension happened in May, and forced 100 million people to turn to alternative services - a huge proportion of the internet-using population in a country with some of the world's highest mobile phone charges. "The suspension of service apparently violates the fundamental precept of freedom of expression and communication," the Supreme Court said in its ruling.
In March, a Facebook executive was detained overnight for failing to comply with an attempt to block WhatsApp. Mr Lewandowski pointed out that the lower court judge's decision seemed "not very reasonable and not very proportional".
A Whatsapp spokesperson had said: "As we've said in the past we cannot share information we don't have access to. WhatsApp - owned by social media giant Facebook since February 2015 - gradually resumed normal service after the court's ruling, correspondents say.
"Indiscriminate steps like these threaten people's ability to communicate, to run their businesses, and to live their lives." Earlier in the day, lower court Judge Daniela Barbosa ordered the suspension of WhatsApp, accusing its parent company Facebook of failing "to provide information that will be critical to the success of an investigation and later to bolster the criminal case".
Correspondents said it was the latest clash in a battle between tech firms and judicial systems over how to collaborate in criminal investigations without compromising individual freedoms - like in the dispute between Apple and the FBI over access to the phone of the San Bernardino gunman. It is not clear which investigation she is referring to, but she said the firm had been repeatedly asked to provide messages to police investigators in the city of Caxias, north of Rio.
Taking to Facebook, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum said it was "shocking that less than two months after Brazilian people and lawmakers loudly rejected blocks of services like WhatsApp, history is repeating itself".
He was referring to its suspension for 72 hours in May, which forced users to turn to alternative services - a huge proportion of the internet-using population in a country with some of the world's highest mobile phone charges.
Twitter users responded with frustration - and, in many cases, with humour:Twitter users responded with frustration - and, in many cases, with humour:
End-to-end encryption - introduced in April - is a key advantage touted by WhatsApp. WhatsApp also argues that it cannot share information, because its encrypted communications mean "only you and the person you're communicating with can read what is sent".
In its website's frequently asked questions, it says: "Privacy and security is in our DNA, which is why we have end-to-end encryption in the latest versions of our app... [This] ensures only you and the person you're communicating with can read what is sent, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp." Technology commentators suggest regular interruptions to service could dent WhatsApp's popularity.
Technology commentators suggest the regular interruptions to service could dent WhatsApp's popularity.