If you’re in Brazil, you’ll have to do without WhatsApp for a few days.
A judge has barred the wildly popular messaging app for 48 hours after WhatsApp failed to respond to two court orders, according to a court ruling.
The judge ordered cell phone operators to block WhatsApp on Thursday and Friday.
WhatsApp had “failed to cooperate in a criminal investigation,” the judge ruled. The temporary suspension was “a penalty for not complying.”
CNNMoney was not immediately able to confirm the details of the criminal investigation.
WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum tweeted a link to an article stating that nine out of 10 Brazilian doctors talk to their patients using WhatsApp, and added to his tweet, “sadly not right now.”
Facebook bought the messaging app for $19 billion in 2014.
Calling it a “sad day” for Brazil, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg posted a message slamming the decision.
“I am stunned that our efforts to protect people’s data would result in such an extreme decision,” he said.
Facebook says the order blocks more than 100 million users. It urged them to complain in the hope that the judge will reverse the order. Facebook’s Messenger service is still available in Brazil.
Local phone companies have been complaining loudly that Brazilians have been dropping their service plans in favor of using WhatsApp’s free call service. Some lawmakers have called for it to be banned altogether as an “illegal” and unregulated telephone service.
