The Rio de Janeiro’s state police force has banned officers from using instant messaging services such as WhatsApp on their smartphones on the job, urging them to rather use radios.
According to the authorities, the usage of such application poses a security threat owing to the nature of job they are faced with.
The Brazilian force circulated an internal memo on Friday, October 9, 2015 warning officers that they would be placed under serious monitoring in that regard, adding that the use of such applications on their smartphones would be considered a ‘serious offense’.
Although the memo, according to Metro UK, did not spell out the possible consequences for offenders.
According to the memo, the use of instant messaging apps and social media harms ‘security, productivity and the quality of (officers’) services to population’.
Brazil is one of the world’s top users of social media, and the instant messaging application WhatsApp has become the preferred method of communication for many.
