Brazil blocks WhatsApp for 48 hours leaving 93 million without accessDecember 18, 2015 - 15:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - You might notice that WhatsApp has started trending across social media - and that's because the messaging service has been temporarily blocked by the Brazilian government, Digital Spy reports. The Facebook-owned platform has been placed under lockdown for 48 hours, leaving more than 93 million people in the country without access. The move has seen users flock to rival messaging service Telegram, which has racked up over 1.5 million downloads in the past few hours. It is unclear why Brazil has clamped down on WhatsApp, although telecommunications companies in the territory have been lobbying for the app to be banned on the grounds that its voice service is unregulated. Service providers have expressed concerns that the Facebook-owned service's WiFi calling and instant messaging features is convincing Brazilians to ditch their phone lines, reports TechCrunch. Brazil's conservative congress is pushing for radical sanctions on the use of social media, including regulations that would force citizens to enter their address, phone number and tax ID in order to access certain apps and websites. The authorities are also calling for politicians to have the power to censor social media posts that they deem to be defamatory. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he was "stunned" by Brazil's decision to block WhatsApp and is "working hard to get [the] block reversed". Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. Aliyev travels to Turkey at Erdogan's invitation On June 10, Azerbaijani President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Turkey on a working visit. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. |