Apple has begun blocking downloads of popular anonymous social app Secret in Brazil, complying with a preliminary injunction that was recently granted by a Brazilian civil court judge. The judge ordered Apple to remove the app from their Brazilian App Store, and to also remotely delete the app from customer’s 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 has not yet begun deleting the app from user’s devices, and it’s unclear if Apple intends to comply with that part of the order, if it will attempt to win an appeal of that portion.
Google and Microsoft were also required to remove the Android and Windows Phone versions of the app from their respective app stores, but are not yet reported to be complying with the order.
The injunction stemmed from a civil case filed by public prosecutor Marcelo Zenkner. The prosecutor took action following several complaints from “Secret” users about bullying on the anonymous social network. Secret users can post messages and comments all the while keeping their identity a secret. Saying the anonymity feature violates Brazilian law, a judge earlier this week handed down the injunction against Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The companies have ten days to comply with the order, or face a daily fine of around $8,890 USD.
