Brazilian police arrested the vice president of Facebook in Latin America because WhatsApp did not comply with a court order to share data.




ABC News reports that Facebook’s Diego Dzoran was arrested for “ignoring a judicial order” for an investigation:

A Tuesday news release says Argentine Diego Dzoran was arrested on an order from a judge in the northeastern state of Sergipe. Dzoran is accused of ignoring a judicial order in a secret investigation involving organized crime and drug trafficking.


“We’re disappointed with the extreme and disproportionate measure of having a Facebook executive escorted to a police station in connection with a case involving WhatsApp, which operates separately from Facebook. Facebook has always been and will be available to address any questions Brazilian authorities may have,” a Facebook spokesperson told Gizmodo.

“We are disappointed that law enforcement took this extreme step,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said. “WhatsApp cannot provide information we do not have. We cooperated to the full extent of our ability in this case and while we respect the important job of law enforcement, we strongly disagree with its decision.”

In December, Brazil blocked WhatsApp for two days because the Facebook-owned company wouldn’t share information with police. That block was also a response to ignoring a court order. The arrest of an executive is an even more extreme reaction to the same non-compliance.


In the US, Apple is currently fighting with the government over compliance with court orders to assist in cases, but this situation hasn’t devolved to Tim Cook in an orange jumpsuit just yet.

Brazil’s “sin-free” Facebook, Faceglória, remains up-and-running.

[ABC News]

Contact the author at kate.knibbs@gizmodo.com .

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