Brazilian court freezes Facebook fund of six mln U.S. dollars

A Brazilian court has ordered more than 6 million U.S. dollars in Facebook funds frozen because the American company's messaging service WhatsApp refused to surrender messages demanded by police.

The G1 news site, a Brazilian news site, reported that Brazilian police have repeatedly asked WhatsApp for the messages of suspected drug dealers involved in an international cocaine traffic case.

As the American company failed to respond the police order issued early this year, a court in the southern state of Parana on Thursday ordered a freeze of 19.5 million reals (6.1 million U.S. dollars) in Facebook accounts, according to local reports.

WhatsApp was cut off in Brazil for 72 hours in May for a similar case. Facebook Inc's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg posted on his Facebook page calling on Brazilians to protest the suspension.