Bolsonaro’s Party Tries to Hinder Work of Congressional “Fake News” Joint Committee

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s Congress approved on Tuesday, September 11th, the call for instant messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram to provide clarification on the production and diffusion of false news.

The requests were put to a vote in the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry (CPMI) of Fake News in defiance of the attempted obstruction by the PSL, the party of President Jair Bolsonaro.

The party tried to defer the examination of the summons through a sequence of petitions made to the chair of the committee. The tactic, however, did not work.

PSL opposes the purpose of the joint committee: to investigate the production and diffusion of false news and the practice of cyberbullying against officials and citizens. The reason for this is that the CPMI will also look into the sharing of fake news during last year’s presidential election, which inconveniences Bolsonaro’s supporters.

PSL members argue that there is no “hard fact” for the investigation and claim that the committee is political in nature. “They are trying to create a kangaroo court to judge the president and his campaign,” said deputy Caroline de Toni (PSL-SC).

Caroline and other legislators such as Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PSL-RJ), deputy Filipe Barros (PSL-PR) and deputy Carla Zambelli (PSL-SP) have formed a kind of party hit squad in an attempt to obstruct the meeting.

A long debate, involving an exchange of barbs and mutual accusations, preceded the reading of the rapporteur’s work plan, prepared by Lídice da Mata (PSB-BA).

In one of the verbal clashes, Flávio Bolsonaro mentioned an interview with the president of the CPMI, Angelo Coronel (PSD-BA), in which he stated to “TV Câmara” that he intended to ask Carlos Bolsonaro, Flávio’s brother if he “used fake news to discredit opponents”. He further said that, in the event of a lie, he could place the deponent under arrest.

Flávio questioned Coronel if his statements could not be construed as a “threat” to his brother, who is a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro but has been an active player in his father’s government, chiefly due to the impact of his posts on social media.

On Monday, September 9th, for instance, Carlos wrote on Twitter that, through “democratic means there will not be the swift changes desired in the country”. The message was criticized by politicians and the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), who viewed it as an insult to the Brazilian democratic system.

Coronel replied that he had not threatened Bolsonaro’s son and that part of his interview had been taken out of context.

In addition to requests to hear representatives of WhatsApp and Telegram, the CPMI further approved the summoning of Google, Instagram, Youtube, and Twitter – companies responsible for social media, means of distribution of news among the population – in addition to those in charge of The Intercept Brasil website.

A request was also granted to hear university professor and feminist blogger Lola Aronovich, the target of a slanderous cyber-campaign and physical persecution in Ceará.

(Source: UOL)