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Apple Blocking 'Secret' in Brazilian App Store After Court Ruling

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MacRumors

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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secret-iconB-250x250.jpeg
Apple has started blocking downloads of anonymous communication app Secret [Direct Link] following a preliminary injunction that was granted recently by a Brazilian civil court judge (Via 9to5Mac). According to the injunction ruling shared by Gigaom earlier this week, Apple is required to remove the app from the Brazilian App Store and remotely delete the app from customers' devices.

Local media noted earlier today that Secret was still listed in the Brazilian App Store, but that Apple was preventing users from installing the app on their iOS devices. The app now appears to have been removed entirely from the the Brazilian store.

Apple reportedly has not started deleting the app from user's devices per the injunction requirements, and it is unclear whether Apple plans to comply with that portion of the order or pursue the issue further. The injunction also applies to the Android version of Secret and a similar Windows Phone Secret client titled Cryptic, but Microsoft and Google are not yet complying with the injunction terms.

The injunction stems from a civil case filed by public prosecutor Marcelo Zenkner, who took action after receiving complaints about bullying on the anonymous social network. Secret allows users to post messages and comment while keeping their identity hidden. This anonymity provision violates Brazilian law, prompting the judge to issue the injunction earlier this week. Google, Apple and Microsoft have ten days to comply with the ruling or face daily fines of 20,000 reals ($8,890 USD).

Article Link: Apple Blocking 'Secret' in Brazilian App Store After Court Ruling
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/22/secret-brazil/
TantalizedMind

TantalizedMind

Suspended
Feb 5, 2007
889
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$9,000 to Apple is chump change. $9,000 to Microsoft on the other hand is what they make a whole year from Surface sales! Ouch!


hehe
 
D

Dave-Z

macrumors 6502a
Jun 26, 2012
861
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Remotely delete? So if I buy book at a local store and the courts then say that book should not be sold, the retailer must come into my house and physically remove the book? What kind of totalitarian society do we live in? :confused:
 
markyr17

markyr17

macrumors 65816
Apr 8, 2010
1,186
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How ridiculous!!

Does it sound like Topix over here in the US? And... There's a law saying that it's illegal to stay anonymous online? Wow.
 
tagyro

tagyro

macrumors newbie
Oct 22, 2009
22
7
Dave-Z said:
Remotely delete? So if I buy book at a local store and the courts then say that book should not be sold, the retailer must come into my house and physically remove the book? What kind of totalitarian society do we live in? :confused:
Click to expand...

I have a different view on this.
Anonymity brings out the worst in people and although I believe in freedom of expression, I think people should not be allowed to make statements anonymously.
If you make a statement be prepared to assume responsibility for it, especially if you slander/attack someone (see where this whole thing started).
Yes, there are some exceptions, but I doubt they apply here (whistleblowers, abuse etc)
As for the fact that it was removed remotely, it's a decision from a judge, Apple can't really do much but comply.
 
D

Dave-Z

macrumors 6502a
Jun 26, 2012
861
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tagyro said:
I have a different view on this.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree that people should put an identity to online comments many times. But I do think anonymity online is an important thing and should be allowed.

While Apple must comply to remotely delete the app, I disagree with this aspect of the ruling for the example I previously stated. Also, hammers are great tools but can hurt people; we don't outlaw the hammer, we outlaw the behaviour.
 
P

ProVideo

macrumors 6502
Jun 28, 2011
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Between Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Foxconn it seems like they carry enough weight to persuade government officials to address this.
 
Last edited:
boast

boast

macrumors 65816
Nov 12, 2007
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Microsoft and Google are not yet complying with the injunction terms.
Click to expand...

Freedom fighters!

tagyro said:
Anonymity brings out the worst in people and although I believe in freedom of expression, I think people should not be allowed to make statements anonymously.
Click to expand...

Thats how i feel every time some Chinese blogger gets captured and tortured for criticizing the government. Got to take responsibility. Gaddafi should of done this.

tagyro said:
As for the fact that it was removed remotely, it's a decision from a judge, Apple can't really do much but comply.
Click to expand...

True. And if Apple was Google, they would of kept running a censored search engine in China.
 
Last edited:
I

iAshley

macrumors member
Feb 22, 2011
76
10
tagyro said:
I have a different view on this.
Anonymity brings out the worst in people and although I believe in freedom of expression, I think people should not be allowed to make statements anonymously.
If you make a statement be prepared to assume responsibility for it, especially if you slander/attack someone (see where this whole thing started).
Yes, there are some exceptions, but I doubt they apply here (whistleblowers, abuse etc)
As for the fact that it was removed remotely, it's a decision from a judge, Apple can't really do much but comply.
Click to expand...

I don't know who you are, you're using an alias which allows you to stay anonymous.

Please provide your full name, address and telephone number.

Actually I don't care, do what you want.
 
L

lacg

macrumors newbie
Sep 3, 2012
2
0
tagyro said:
I have a different view on this.
Anonymity brings out the worst in people and although I believe in freedom of expression, I think people should not be allowed to make statements anonymously.
If you make a statement be prepared to assume responsibility for it, especially if you slander/attack someone (see where this whole thing started).
Yes, there are some exceptions, but I doubt they apply here (whistleblowers, abuse etc)
As for the fact that it was removed remotely, it's a decision from a judge, Apple can't really do much but comply.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you.

Anyway the main point is that the actual interpretation from the Brazilian Supreme Court is Brazilian Constitution forbids anonymity. You are allowed to express whatever you want, as long as you bear the consequences of your acts. It doesn't forbid the use of a hammer, as long as it is possible to track the hammer's users. Of course this is a very debatable subject, but for now dura lex, sed lex.

What is the main thing is that the app could provide "relative" anonymity as long as they can track who said what and provide that information to Justice if demanded by a formal process. That's the way it works down there... :\
 
theBB

theBB

macrumors 68020
Jan 3, 2006
2,453
3
lacg said:
Anyway the main point is that the actual interpretation from the Brazilian Supreme Court is Brazilian Constitution forbids anonymity. You are allowed to express whatever you want, as long as you bear the consequences of your acts. It doesn't forbid the use of a hammer, as long as it is possible to track the hammer's users.
Click to expand...
Great way to ensure nobody says anything that is unpopular or criticize the powerful.

----------
MacRumors said:
The injunction stems from a civil case filed by public prosecutor Marcelo Zenkner, who took action after receiving complaints about bullying on the anonymous social network.
Click to expand...
How can you be bullied by an app that you can just delete and ignore?
 
T

tennisproha

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2011
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so Apple can remotely access specific data on our phones? this is actually news to me. can anyone confirm if they have insight on this?
 
Reason077

Reason077

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Aug 14, 2007
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Dave-Z said:
What kind of totalitarian society do we live in? :confused:
Click to expand...

Do you live in Brazil?

Not all citizens of the world enjoy the same freedoms and liberties as those of us in the "west". And there are many countries out there far worse than Brazil.
 
N

nt5672

macrumors 68040
Jun 30, 2007
3,331
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Midwest USA
Reason077 said:
Do you live in Brazil?

Not all citizens of the world enjoy the same freedoms and liberties as those of us in the "west". And there are many countries out there far worse than Brazil.
Click to expand...

The west is no longer free like it was either, it seems most people don't care about freedom and long as they get something for free in return.
 
J

JAT

macrumors 603
Dec 31, 2001
6,473
124
Mpls, MN
tennisproha said:
so Apple can remotely access specific data on our phones? this is actually news to me. can anyone confirm if they have insight on this?
Click to expand...
App Kill Switch, frequently argued over, never used by Apple. All systems have it, Google used it once.
 
D

Dave-Z

macrumors 6502a
Jun 26, 2012
861
1,447
Reason077 said:
Do you live in Brazil?

Not all citizens of the world enjoy the same freedoms and liberties as those of us in the "west". And there are many countries out there far worse than Brazil.
Click to expand...

Thankfully, no. I live in one of the "free" countries of the west. My word choice was to draw attention to the fact that a ruling which orders a non-government company to violate what should be the rights of private citizens seems inappropriate.
 
T

tennisproha

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2011
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JAT said:
App Kill Switch, frequently argued over, never used by Apple. All systems have it, Google used it once.
Click to expand...

I thought Kill Switch was the anti-theft system started last year, where it's locked to icloud account.

how would the remote access work…
 
J

JAT

macrumors 603
Dec 31, 2001
6,473
124
Mpls, MN
tennisproha said:
I thought Kill Switch was the anti-theft system started last year, where it's locked to icloud account.

how would the remote access work…
Click to expand...
2 different things:
App kill switch
Phone kill switch

These are really just common terms, people call them various things.

----------
Dave-Z said:
Thankfully, no. I live in one of the "free" countries of the west. My word choice was to draw attention to the fact that a ruling which orders a non-government company to violate what should be the rights of private citizens seems inappropriate.
Click to expand...
That's the real trick, isn't it? See, some citizens are violating rights of other citizens. So, when does your local govt step in and decide that protection is warranted for the victims? Apparently Brazil has chosen their time in this case.
 
zorinlynx

zorinlynx

macrumors G3
May 31, 2007
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Apple is a US company, subject to US law. Why can't they just tell Brazil to **** themselves? What's the worst that can happen?

Maybe Brazil doesn't let the iPhone be sold in the country. However, the resulting uproar is probably something they don't want, so they probably wouldn't go that far.

I can't believe how paranoid some governments are about letting people express themselves freely. They can't take criticism! It's sad because criticism tells you what you're doing wrong and allows one to govern/do things better.
 
Phil A.

Phil A.

Moderator emeritus
Apr 2, 2006
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zorinlynx said:
Apple is a US company, subject to US law. Why can't they just tell Brazil to **** themselves? What's the worst that can happen?
Click to expand...

Apple is subject to Brazilian laws when operating in Brazil, just like they're subject to UK laws in the UK, German laws in Germany, etc, etc

I would imagine the absolute worst that could happen would be the board of directors could be held in contempt of court and jailed...
 
ZacNicholson

ZacNicholson

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2011
882
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Austin
theBB said:
Great way to ensure nobody says anything that is unpopular or criticize the powerful.

----------


How can you be bullied by an app that you can just delete and ignore?
Click to expand...


totally agree man. if you don't like what you read then stop reading it. you don't know the person who wrote it so who cares. kids are just overly sensitive now a days. Everyone cries about getting bullied when in reality its just part of growing up.
 
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