Bolsonarists’ Social Media Accounts Taken Down Following Supreme Court Ruling

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The profiles of 16 allies and supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro, under investigation for allegedly spreading fake news, were blocked by Twitter and Facebook on Friday, July 24th. The accounts’ suspension was ordered by Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The decision is part of the fake news inquiry, which investigates attacks on Court justices and the spread of false information and has Moraes as its rapporteur.

In an order signed last Wednesday, July 22nd, Moraes calls for the blocking of 16 Twitter accounts and 12 Facebook profiles, with a fine of R$20,000 a day for companies that fail to comply with the ruling. All were suspended on Friday.

The ruling names the holders of the accounts to be suspended:

• Roberto Jefferson, former deputy and national president of the PTB
• Luciano Hang, entrepreneur
• Edgard Corona, entrepreneur
• Otávio Fakhoury, entrepreneur
• Edson Solomão, advisor to São Paulo state deputy Douglas Garcia
• Rodrigo Barbosa Ribeiro, advisor to São Paulo state deputy Douglas Garcia
• Bernardo Küster, blogger
• Allan dos Santos, blogger
• Winston Rodrigues Lima, military reserve officer
• Reynaldo Bianchi Junior, comedian
• Enzo Leonardo Momenti, YouTuber
• Marcos Dominguez Bellizia, spokesperson for the Nas Ruas (On the Streets) movement
• Sara Giromini
• Eduardo Fabris Portella
• Marcelo Stachin
• Rafael Moreno

In May, the group had already been the subject of a search and seizure authorized by the justice, in an unfolding of the inquiry. At the time, Moraes ordered the blocking of social media accounts of 16 people under investigation. The profiles were active until last week, which led the magistrate to reiterate his ruling last Wednesday.

Attorneys of the targeted individuals told TV Globo that they have appealed the justice’s ruling.

In a statement released on Friday, Twitter said it “acted in strict compliance with a legal ruling from the Federal Supreme Court (STF) inquiry. Facebook, also in a note, said it “respects the Judiciary and complies with valid legal orders.”

Moraes’ decision

In reiterating the order to take down accounts on national territory, on Wednesday, Moraes stated that the purpose of the measure is to prevent profiles from being used for ascertained “potential criminal conduct”.

“Considering the need for proper compliance with the judicial order to block profiles used by those under investigation in these proceedings, thus preventing them from continuing to be used as an instrument for the perpetration of potential criminal conduct ascertained in these proceedings,” wrote the justice.

According to the justice, the companies argued that they had not complied with the first ruling dated May 27th, because it was “generic ” and did not specify the precise profiles that should be blocked.

Moraes stressed that the investigations “point to the potential existence of organized use of computer tools, notably social network accounts, to produce, distribute and spread false information or information that could undermine the institutions of the rule of law, notably the Supreme Court.”

Request from the Office of the Prosecutor General (PGR)

In an opinion submitted to the Supreme Court on June 23rd, Prosecutor General Augusto Aras advocated the granting of a habeas corpus in order to overthrow the blocking order of one of those investigated. According to Aras, the measure was disproportionate and useless.

The Prosecutor General said that in May he had already spoken out against the exclusion of the accounts of the 16 investigated by the STF for violating freedom of expression.

“At the time, the disproportionate nature of measures to block accounts on social networks linked to those investigated was noted, because the demonstrations noted were expressions of legitimate criticism – albeit harsh – protected by freedom of expression.”

The case has as its rapporteur of Justice Edson Fachin, who has requested information from Moraes.

What the profile owners say

Roberto Jefferson

In a note, the PTB’s national president says he was surprised to learn of the blocking, and that he “never” attacked the STF.

“I believe in democracy and that it is only possible through full freedom of expression, as guaranteed by our Federal Constitution. Everyone has the right to express individual opinions. In order to build an increasingly better country, it is necessary to discuss ideas and keep the debate open for the whole society. This is what I have always advocated,” he says.

“There is no mention whatsoever of any post against the STF in the ruling that determined the censorship. So much so that the subject of the investigation is a purported financing of the entrepreneur to other parties under investigation and not that he would have spread Fake News.”

Edgard Corona

According to Edgar Corona’s legal advisor, he will not comment.

Allan dos Santos

On Instagram, Allan dos Santos said: the STF has disabled my Twitter account. No more freedom of expression and of the press.

Sara Giromini

Also on Instagram, Sara Giromini wrote: “This is a dictatorship!! My Twitter, Youtube and Facebook were seized by the STF.”

Edson Solomon

The deputy aide said that he finds the ruling “absurd, what I have to say is that there is a censorship installed in Brazil. It is determined to block our accounts because our opinions attack democracy.”

“I can’t express my opinion as far as the crime of opinion is concerned. I cannot express my opinion since I am not a journalist, I am not a blogger, I do not write in any newsroom. I’m just a conservative activist who expresses his opinion on social media and because of that they felt that my opinions could threaten anything. So, what I am currently facing is censorship, censorship is currently installed in Brazil.”

Otávio Fakhouri

Entrepreneur Otávio Fakhoury’s defense stated that “the blocking measure entails real censorship for preventing the expression of Fakhoury’s thoughts, which is guaranteed by the broad system of freedom of expression enshrined in the Federal Constitution.”

Bernardo Küster

In a video published on Youtube, the blogger said he felt “totally censored”. “In this Brazil, it is forbidden to be root conservative, it is forbidden to be Christian,” he said.

Winston Lima

“Once again, I’m embarrassed by the Fake News inquiry. My Twitter account has been blocked. In thinking that all this is because I am a conservative, a Christian, who values the family, loves Brazil, democracy, and supports our President. It is very sad what Bolsonaro’s supporters are suffering,” the military officer said in a statement.

Others quoted

G1 contacted the defense counsel of comedian Reynaldo Bianchi and is waiting for feedback. The reporter also tried to get in touch with the others cited in the judicial order.

Source: G1