Facebook blocks accounts of known Bolsonaro allies worldwide

Last weekend, the Facebook accepted a decision by the Supreme Court (STF) and globally blocked several accounts of political figures, businessmen and activists of the Brazilian extreme right, many of them known allies of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Many of these accounts were already partially blocked on the platform since July 24th, but this block was only related to access by other accounts in Brazil (that is, only those who used the social network here in Brazil could not access these profiles) and now these accounts are locked out of access worldwide, preventing anyone from viewing posts made by them.

The STF decision was motivated by the fact that the blocked profiles are organizing a smear campaign against the Supreme Court judges, creating fake news to incite the population to cry out for the military to take a “coup” and close both the STF and the National Congress. (where the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies are located).

Among the blocked accounts are those of known allies of President Jair Bolsonaro, such as Roberto Jefferson (national president of the PTB, a party that is one of Bolsonaro’s biggest allies in Congress), businessman Luciano Hang (owner of the Havan chain of stores, and who is popularly known on the internet as “Véio da Havan”) and the extremist Sarah Winter (leader of the “300 do Brasil” movement – ​​inspired by Ukrainian neo-Nazi groups – and who has already threatened to take up arms and invade the Senate).

What Facebook says about the case

Despite having blocked all these accounts worldwide, Facebook did so begrudgingly. The block occurred only after, last Friday (31), the company was fined R$ 1,92 million for refusing to comply with the decision of the STF, which asked for the worldwide block of these accounts. In addition, this fine would be increased by BRL 100 per day that the social network took to comply with the decision.

In an official statement, Facebook said it does not agree with the STF's request, calling the Supreme Court's decision "extreme", and would be in total disagreement with the spectrum of laws and jurisdictions worldwide. This is because, theoretically, the jurisdiction of justice in a country ends at its borders, which would easily allow the STF to ask for the blocking of accounts here in Brazil, but which makes Facebook consider it absurd to want this blockade at the global level.

The company also states that it decided to comply with the request not only because of the fine, but because of the possibility that, if it did not comply, the Brazilian headquarters of the company would have to answer for criminal liability. That's why Facebook blocked the accounts worldwide at the request of the STF, but that will appeal this decision and fight in the courts to have it overturned.

These are not the first profiles linked to President Jair Bolsonaro that were blocked on social media because of the sharing of fake news. In July, dozens of Facebook and Instagram profiles were removed for spreading disinformation campaigns from fake profiles, and many of them had direct links to the offices of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro and President Jair Bolsonaro.

Source: BBC