Brazilian court takes down pro-Bolsonaro fake news channels

Edited by Ed Newman
2022-10-20 16:22:59

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Brasilia, October 20 (RHC)-- The Brazilian Electoral Justice has banned the airing of a documentary of the pro-Bolsonar channel Brasil Paralelo, as part of an offensive against the dissemination of false information in favor of the Brazilian president, in the middle of the election campaign.   It also ordered the demonetization of several channels, of the sites Foco do Brasil and Folha Política , and summoned the president's son, Carlos Bolsonaro, regarding the dissemination of false news. 

The decision was signed by the electoral inspector general, magistrate Benedito Gonçalves, who was present at a meeting this Wednesday with giant internet platforms such as Google or Meta. 

President Jair Bolsonaro, his three parliamentary sons, vice presidential candidate Walter Braga Netto, and 42 other people, including some members of the far-right Bolsonarist parliamentary group, were part of an investigation.

In justifying the decision with partial suspension of the production lines of fake news aligned with the candidate for reelection, Judge Gonçalves wrote: "This examination should not be confused with the one conducted in the substantive trial and does not anticipate the final decision." 

In that sense, he pointed out that "it must evaluate 'concretely' the effects of the conducts practiced, in order to establish whether they are sufficiently serious to give rise to the revocation of the registration or the title and the disqualification."

The activities of the content providers Brasil Paralelo, Foco do Brasil, Folha Política and Dr. Noticias on YouTube were banned. According to Gonçalves, they are all maintained by legal entities.  The financial mapping of the networks linked to the Bolsonaro clan was initiated in inquiries determined by the Supreme Federal Court and is now being expanded by the Electoral Justice.



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