Most of Brazil's internet users also use WhatsApp because of the high prices of traditional texting and mobile phone plans in general. As much as 93 percent of the country's internet population uses Facebook owned app, TechCrunch reports.
Some have questioned if the reasons for blocking are tied with the investigations of criminal activity within the messaging service or if it's a plot by the telecoms. The latter can be refuted by the fact that blocking a single service would not stop people from using online messaging. The messaging app Telegram proved the point by gaining millions of users immediately after the ban.
The Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg was stunned by initial ban and posted a message (below) on his Facebook wall saying that it's "a sad day for Brazil".
Tonight, a Brazilian judge blocked WhatsApp for more than 100 million people who rely on it in her country.We are...
Julkaissut Mark Zuckerberg 17. joulukuuta 2015