Justice Seeks to Silence Brazil’s Top Conservative Radio Network

Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry MPF (Public Prosecutor’s Office) has taken legal action to cancel three radio concessions granted to Jovem Pan.

Conservative Jovem Pan in Brazil is the largest conservative radio network in Latin America, growing exponentially.

At the same time, leftist Brazilian President Lula da Silva is quietly striving to build a state TV propaganda apparatus.

In the lawsuit against Jovem Pan, prosecutors Yuri Corrêa da Luz and Ana Letícia Absy accuse the station of promoting “large-scale disinformation” about the electoral system, with “potential incitement to violence and the breakdown of democratic order.”

According to the prosecutors, the news broadcast by the station would have legitimized the invasion of the Three Powers buildings in Brasilia on January 8.

The MPF not only demands the revocation of Jovem Pan’s licenses but also seeks compensation of R$13.4 (US$2.6) million for collective moral damages caused by the content aired.

To justify the request, the MPF used the “systematic disinformation” concept defended by the Superior Electoral Court TSE in last year’s elections.

For the TSE, it was necessary to take down information considered false by the court or even true but poorly contextualized could cause “informational disorder.”

Based on this thesis, the body granted itself police power, which is not provided for in Brazilian law, and determined the temporary suspension of accounts, profiles, or channels on social media and even ordered the blocking of platforms that repeatedly fail to comply with its orders.

Additionally, the MPF requires Jovem Pan to broadcast videos promoting the reliability of the electoral process and electronic voting machines multiple times a day for several months, imposing fines for non-compliance.

The MPF cites specific programs aired by Jovem Pan to support their claims of illegal activities.

This allegedly includes disseminating disinformation that undermines public trust in democratic processes, inciting disobedience to legislation and judicial decisions, promoting rebellion and intervention by the armed forces against civilian institutions, and encouraging political and social order subversion.

In the past, Jovem Pan accused the TSE of censorship during the 2022 elections after being prohibited from discussing facts related to Lula’s conviction.

The MPF’s action relies on the TSE’s notion of “systematic disinformation” to accuse Jovem Pan.

The TSE argues that false or poorly contextualized information can cause “informational disorder” during elections, granting the TSE the authority to take down content and suspend social media accounts and platforms.

The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT) said the action filed requesting the cancellation of three public radio concessions of the Jovem Pan group is “worrisome”.

The organization also said that withdrawing a radio broadcasting license “is an extreme and serious measure, without precedent in our Democratic State of Law”.