Given that my understanding is WhatsApp/Facebook are quite literally unable to comply because the content doesn't exist (yay, E2E encryption!), this is also an absurd, disproportionate response.
But, unlike the usual response of blocking WhatsApp for hundreds of millions of entirely innocent people, this at least keeps this silly little war between the lawyers, where it belongs. If nothing else, a step in the right direction.
this war will move to the users if Facebook decides to pull out of the country altogether. This is a very interesting case to follow: If Brazil 'wins', this might be the first case where a government says "I don't like E2E encryption on your app, get off my country", and a company complies. On the other hand, imagine if Facebook proper, pulls out of Brazil and that causes their government to fall. :-)
Facebook pulling out of Brazil? And opening up for other businesses to capture the millions of users? Yeah, I don't think so, but it definitely is a fight that I want to watch closely.
And regarding the government to fall... the floor is pretty close already.
It would be pretty great, but it won't happen. Look at all the major tech companies happily collaborating with China's government censorship. They'll talk big about moral obligations and our children's futures and etc. when their interests happen to line up with those things, but access to lucrative markets will always, always trump.
> On the other hand, imagine if Facebook proper, pulls out of Brazil and that causes their government to fall. :-)
Facebook already deposed one government here in Brazil. ;)
That's why current gov probably will go full power against it anytime soon, if it isn't already started. I don't like Michel Temer (coupist president), but I dislike FB a lot more, so the better would be for them to destroy themselves and leave Brazil to Brazilians :)
It also wasn't a coup. The former is/was impeached for shenanigans involving the state petro co./graft and misstating economic numbers and many other irregularities.
It was most definitely a coup. The people prosecuting her couldn't care less about the alleged violations, that's just a nifty way they managed to get into power.
The people in charge now manage to be even dirtier.
I guess you guys proves that FB/whatsapp/Google/YouTube brainwashed most of Brazillians. After the coup, peace is reigning in Brazil (thanks to the media that stopped with the terror and the American tech companies, mainly FB, stopped their terror echo Chamber).
That TV Globo and other media families wanted Dilma and PT ousted of power was nothing new. Social media support, beginning with the "jornada de junho de 2013" was what really triggered the parlamentary coup.
While I share your sympathy for people being able to communicate, on the other hand, I can't possibly see a good future if multinational corporations are allowed to pick and choose which laws they have to comport with.
Here in India they just return NXDOMAIN for the name. So it is pretty easy to bypass using 8.8.8.8. Also, the guy who installed the router at my home changed the default DNS to 8.8.8.8. I think ISPs do this on purpose. They don't wanna block sites their customers wanna access. And the government is dumb enough to not understand the difference between a DNS block vs a real block.
Given that Eduardo Saverin is from Brazil, and if there was any truth to the "The Social Network"/The Accidental Billionaires narrative at all, it's oddly appropriate that Facebook is getting its money withheld by Brazilians once again.
If you're a government, you can override a corporation, full stop. Whether that's legally, or with force, it's going to happen (up to and including jamming satellite communications or even destroying your satellite).
You could retaliate by force as a corporation, but then you'll probably end up dissolved with your corporate officers in prison.
The interim government of Brazil wants to control media far beyond what they already do. This is just the next step, since their main ally (Globo Media Network) is directly threatened by the advance of Facebook and Google in the country.
I think there is a point that most coverage and discussions miss. Maybe judges understand that Whatsapp can not fulfill their requests, but they choose to block the service to put pressure on the company to better address a very important question, which is how society should treat the question of privacy and, specifically, how can law enforcement and companies cooperate on cases and investigation that rely on this kind of data.
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 85.2 ms ] threadBut, unlike the usual response of blocking WhatsApp for hundreds of millions of entirely innocent people, this at least keeps this silly little war between the lawyers, where it belongs. If nothing else, a step in the right direction.
And regarding the government to fall... the floor is pretty close already.
Facebook already deposed one government here in Brazil. ;)
That's why current gov probably will go full power against it anytime soon, if it isn't already started. I don't like Michel Temer (coupist president), but I dislike FB a lot more, so the better would be for them to destroy themselves and leave Brazil to Brazilians :)
That is a gross overstatement. Brazilian here.
It was most definitely a coup. The people prosecuting her couldn't care less about the alleged violations, that's just a nifty way they managed to get into power.
The people in charge now manage to be even dirtier.
EDIT: grammar.
If you are the sort of person who is able to change your DNS, you are also capable enough to use foreign VPNs etc.
So no, probably not without really upsetting the government.
Diddnt Elon Musk mention something about putting up LEO sats for worldwide Internet.. Gone a bit quiet but I definately recall something like this...
You could retaliate by force as a corporation, but then you'll probably end up dissolved with your corporate officers in prison.