Brazil orders Apple and Google to pull Secret app over bullying

[snowComet]

A Brazilian Judge ordered Apple, Google and Microsoft to pull Secret and Cryptic from their respective stores, as they were abused by bullies who want to intimidate and shame others, and the judge was fed up by these cases. The Judge has also ruled that each company should also pull these apps from devices, or face a fine of 20,000 Reals ($8,876) per day.

 

 

Secret is one of those apps that can drive a tad of controversy. It’s designed for office gossip, and hey, getting your complaints out of your system without others really knowing who you are. Sadly it has also led to bullying in certain cases as well, as there is no safer place to keep your office secrets, than in your own mind. There is also a similar app called Cryptic for Windows Phone, and news are that there is a country that wants them banned.

 

A Brazilian Judge is already fed up with all the reports of bullying cases, and the fact that these services haven’t been able to put these under control, and has ordered Apple, Google and Microsoft to pull these applications from their respective stores. Even more interesting, the Judge has also ruled that each company should also pull these apps from devices, or face a fine of 20,000 Reals ($8,876) per day.

 

We’ve rarely seen these companies pull existing installations from devices, but given the liberty these companies have to control what apps are available per country, this is something that will most likely happen. Do you use Secret or Cryptic? Share your experiences in the comments down bellow.

 

 

Secret's app is ostensibly meant for office gossip and getting transgressions out of your system, but it has also been abused by bullies wanting to intimidate and shame others. Well, one Brazilian judge is fed up with that misuse -- enough so that he's ordering Apple and Google to remove Secret not just from their respective local app stores, but from people's devices. Microsoft also has to yank Cryptic, an equivalent Windows Phone app. If the companies don't take action within 10 days, they face fines of 20,000 Reals ($8,876) per day. That's a drop in the bucket given their massive revenue streams, but it's reasonable to say that they'd rather not pay that much just to keep one title available in one country.

 

The request is certainly feasible. All three companies have removed apps from their stores, and they can technically pull or block software installed on gadgets. However, that last measure is primarily used as a last resort, such as in the event of a malware outbreak; Apple, Google and Microsoft might be reluctant to act unless they have no choice. Whether or not they're stuck isn't clear. Brazil's Constitution bars anonymous attacks that don't let you defend yourself, but there are arguments both that the data isn't truly anonymous (Secret knows the culprits) and that the ban hurts freedom of expression. Don't be shocked if one or more tech firms contest the ruling.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/20/brazil-judge-wants-secret-app-removed/

 

http://pocketnow.com/2014/08/20/secret-cryptic-brazil-ban

[Lord Pantaloons]

good move judge bro but there's no way any legal system will be able to keep up with this. Since this news is out people will already be moving on to other apps or making new ones.

[Askew]

There really is an app for everything, I had no idea this even existed until now and don't really know what to make of it...

[AlexGoesHigh]

one thing is to remove an app from a store, but removing from the devices, i think i just easier to IP ban the service altogether, and that's already overkill and extremist 

[Yoinkerman]

Perhaps, but adoption of new programs takes time and fragmentation can hinder adoption as well, both of which can make fewer cases in the interim and possibly the long run too. The goal isn't to stamp everything out forever.

good move judge bro but there's no way any legal system will be able to keep up with this. Since this news is out people will already be moving on to other apps or making new ones.

[mr moose]

I agree with it,  What kind wimp hides behind a secret app?  If you haven't got the guts to complain to a persons face then you are wrong and they are right.  People are fucking cowards nowadays.  

[ZeroBreaker]

...remote uninstall apps? correct me if i'm wrong, but i'm not sure google could do that if it tried, and same goes for apple and microsoft.

[Skylercompany]

If an app is on a device I don't think it is possible for Google to remove them unless the user does it themselves.

[Trik'Stari]

What happened to the good old days where when someone bullied you, you could just kick their ass? Oh yeah, lawyers.