Brazil judge bans messaging app Telegram for ignoring ruling

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Brazil judge bans messaging app Telegram for ignoring ruling

By MAURICIO SAVARESE
March 18, 2022

SAO PAULO (AP) — A justice of Brazil’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered the shutdown of messaging app Telegram nationwide, arguing it has not cooperated with authorities. The move is a blow to President Jair Bolsonaro, who has more than 1 million followers on the platform and defends it as a key tool for his reelection bid in October.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in his ruling that Telegram repeatedly ignored requests from Brazilian authorities, including a police request to block profiles and provide information linked to blogger Allan dos Santos, an ally of Bolsonaro’s accused of spreading falsehoods.

The justice added that Telegram has also failed to name a legal representative in Brazil, unlike its competitors.

Many of Bolsonaro’s supporters have turned to Telegram since the messaging app’s competitor WhatsApp changed its policies on message sharing. The president has often accused de Moraes and Brazil’s top court of rulings that go against freedom of speech.

De Moraes, who chairs a probe on misinformation in Brazilian social media, issued a warrant for dos Santos’ arrest in October. The activist, a fugitive now based in the United States, has remained active on Telegram, though.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-technology-business-caribbean-brazil-e914cc2be2979c6e271c8c09d099f490

[Judi Lynn]

1. This article mentions another ally of Bolsonaro, Allan dos Santos, who also moved to the U.S.!

Now there are two of these right-wing Brazilian propagandist mutant friends of the Bolsonaros working the Trump crowd in the same time frame, both maintaining loud voices spinning yarns for the fascists back home. This is insane! How big IS this freak show?

Named in the article above, "blogger Allan dos Santos: "



Standing with Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of President Jair Bolsonaro's grifter sons.



Father, too, of course.



Loves him some Steve Bannon.



. . . . .



Deemed the "Rush Limbaugh of Brazil," Olavo de Carvalho, moved to Virginia. Shown with Eduardo Bolsonaro.



Sitting by the father.



Having speaks with Bannon.