The attempt to ban WhatsApp in Brazil has been cut short with a judge ordering restoration of the messaging app on Tuesday, overturning earlier order to block access to the app for 72 hours in the country. WhatsApp service was restored roughly 24 hours into the ban after its parent company Facebook appealed against the ruling.
Judge Marcel Maia Montalvao of Sergipe state on Monday ordered mobile-phone carriers in Brazil to block access to WhatsApp for 72 hours over the company's failure to provide its data to the government. The ban affected over 100 million WhatsApp users in the country.
However, a judge ordered on Tuesday that WhatsApp be restored in the country. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the restoration of the app and thank the public for helping solve the issue.
"WhatsApp is now back online in Brazil! Your voices have been heard once again. Thank you to our community for helping resolve this," Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page. "That said, the idea that everyone in Brazil can be denied the freedom to communicate the way they want is very scary in a democracy."
"You and your friends can help make sure this never happens again, and I hope you get involved," he wrote. "Tomorrow (Wednesday), in Brasilia at 6pm, the Internet Freedom Caucus is hosting an event and will be introducing laws to prevent blocking internet services like WhatsApp. If you are Brazilian and you support WhatsApp, I encourage you to make your voice heard."
It may be mentioned that a Brazilian court ordered shutdown of WhatsApp for 48 hours in December last year after the company refused to provide its user's data in connection with an investigation. The ban lasted only for 12 hours, as the ruling was overturned by another court.
