The popular WhatsApp messaging service has been blocked in Brazil . This was decided by a new sentence of 26 April of the court of the Court of Sergipe.

Thus, from two in the afternoon (local time) the five mobile phone operators (Tim, Oi, Vivo, Claro and Nextel) do not allow users to use WhatsApp. The block will last for a period of 72 hours , subject to approval of the appeal already presented by WhatsApp to the court of the Brazilian state of Sergipe (as has already happened on other occasions). Operators who violate the ban are exposed to a fine of 500,000 reais, equal to approximately 125,000 euros.

Again, the reason for the block is due to the refusal to provide information on WhatsApp conversations that have been requested by Brazilian courts to carry out their investigations into international drug trafficking.

In mid-December last year WhatsApp was blocked for the same reason, even if the sentence did not last the 48 hours foreseen, but only 11.

Of course, the one who really benefited from the block was its rival service, Telegram , which received nearly a million new Brazilian users in just nine hours.

Before bringing the appeal against the decision of Judge Marcel Montalvao, WhatsApp stated: “After having cooperated with all our abilities with the Brazilian courts, we are surprised that a judge from Sergipe has decided to once again order the blocking of WhatsApp in Brazil “.

The judge specified that the reason why WhatsApp was blocked is to be found in the company’s refusal to provide information exchanged by people under investigation in a criminal case.

“This decision penalizes more than 100 million Brazilians who depend on our service to communicate, manage their business and much more,” added WhatsApp, a company owned by Facebook, which was recently involved in a similar affair in the United States. (even if with different existences).

According to the Brazilian authorities, WhatsApp would have the obligation to keep a log of users and conversations for a minimum period of 6 months to provide them to the authorities when necessary. But WhatsApp does not keep user data.