A Brazilian judge has ordered the hugely popular messaging service WhatsApp to be suspended in that country, according to a report from the Associated Press.
However, the AP wrote, the service is still up and running.
It appears the order stems from WhatsApp’s refusal to participate in an investigation into sexually explicit photos of children being posted on the service.
“The judge would not comment on details of his decision,” the AP wrote, “because it is an ongoing case, but a press officer at the Piaui state’s Public Safety Department says the case is linked to ‘sexually graphic photos of children on the app.'”
June 5th: The AI Audit in NYC
Join us next week in NYC to engage with top executive leaders, delving into strategies for auditing AI models to ensure fairness, optimal performance, and ethical compliance across diverse organizations. Secure your attendance for this exclusive invite-only event.
WhatsApp did not immediately respond to a VentureBeat request for comment.
Facebook bought WhatsApp last year for $22 billion. The service has more than 700 million active users.
