The Telegram platform this Wednesday avoided a suspension of its activities in Brazil by immediately complying with the order of the Federal Supreme Court and amending the text of a bill aimed at stopping the spread of misinformation on the Internet.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is responsible for ruling on the mass dissemination of false information, ordered Telegram to be blocked for 72 hours and heavy financial sanctions to be imposed if Telegram did not remove the text, which the company immediately complied with.
The court’s reaction was a response to a statement sent the day before by the Telegram account Brasil to its users, which said that “democracy in Brazil is in danger” because of this legislative project against disinformation.
The statement also said the bill against “fake news” would “kill the modern internet” in Brazil and could force companies like Telegram to stop providing their services.
Alexandre de Moraes also ordered Telegram to send another message to its users, stating: “By decision of the Federal Supreme Court, Telegram is reporting [que] Telegram’s previous post characterized egregious and illegal disinformation against the National Congress, the judiciary, the rule of law and Brazilian democracy as it fraudulently misrepresented the discussion and debate about the regulation of social media providers and private “message” services. (PL 2630), in an attempt to induce and incite users to coerce parliamentarians.”
Telegram transmitted the message in less than an hour, which avoided the suspension of its services.
Last week, Google also used its services to criticize a bill that is moving through the House of Deputies, and the government forced the company to remove the text from its platforms.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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