According to VentureBeat, Apple has stopped downloads in Brazil of anonymous sharing app Secret from the App Store since a Brazilian court told Apple and Google to expunge Secret from their stores as well as from devices they had already been downloaded to. The reason for the court decision was the publication of a photo of a naked man with a signature that he is HIV-positive.

Brazilian law does support free speech rights, but it does not allow for anonymous free speech, making the app unconstitutional. In the case of bullying, if one person says something slanderous against another person, Brazilian law says the offended person should have an opportunity to defend themselves.

The judge demanded to remove the program from the Apple App Store and Google Play, threatened the company with a fine of 20 thousand reais (about 9000 dollars) for each day after the deadline, when the Secret should be removed from the directory. Finally, the judge wants the Secret to be removed from the smartphones and tablets of users who have already set the application.

So, far there’s no word from either Microsoft or Google on whether they will comply with the injunction. Both companies still have a week before daily fines start mounting.

Source: VentureBeat