YouTube has been blocked by Brazil's two largest telephone operators, Brasil Telecom and Telefônica, in response to a court order banning a steamy video of MTV host and supermodel Daniela Cicarelli, the telephone companies announced today.
The popular video shows Cicarelli and Merrill Lynch investment banker Renato Malzoni in intimate scenes along a beach near the Spanish city of Cadiz. The viewing of the video worldwide exploded over the weekend after the Brazil ban made headlines around the world.
Mr. Zuliani, a local judge in Brazil ordered YouTube to prevent the video from being seen by Brazilians. The judge also said fixed-line operators that provide Internet access must take part in the ban until YouTube can prove that the clip cannot be viewed in Brazil on its site.
YouTube said last week that it took down links to the video and did not respond to messages seeking comment on today's development.
Zuliani's order is temporary and will be reviewed by a judicial panel, however, it is not known when this will take place or how long the YouTube ban will last.
Cicarelli and Malzoni sued YouTube in September and won an injunction for the removal of the video. Based on a second request by Malzoni, the Brazilian court last week expanded his order to include the telecommunications companies after the clip continued to appear periodically.
The steamy video can be seen in places like here:
{mgmediabot}images/stories/video/cicarelli.flv|false|400|300{/mgmediabot}
Peter Rost, M.D., is a former Vice President of Pfizer. He is the author of "The Whistleblower, Confessions of a Healthcare Hitman."He also writes the daily Dr. Peter Rost blog.
