SAO PAULO: A Brazilian judge issued an order on Monday blocking the popular WhatsApp smartphone messaging application nationwide, the second such shut-down in six months.

Judge Marcel Montalvao in the small northeastern town of Lagarto issued the order because Facebook, the owner of the service, failed to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation, reported news site G1.

The judge “has ordered the suspension of WhatsApp from 2pm on Monday,” a court spokeswoman said.

WhatsApp was previously shut down in Brazil in December over a similar dispute, before a higher court threw out the two-day suspension after about 12 hours.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd , 2016