Brazil bans Telegram over ‘disinformation’   

Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes has ordered messaging app Telegram to be shut down as part of an effort to combat disinformation about the country's electoral system. 

According to details, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies have increasingly relied upon Telegram as a form of mass communication after social media giants such as Facebook, Google and Twitter dropped supporters’ accounts—citing the alleged spreading of disinformation.

The request to Supreme Court judge was made by Federal Police after Telegram did not comply with court decisions to block profiles that were labeled as ‘disseminators of fake news’ and hate speech ahead of presidential elections in October.  

The move is a blow to President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters who have used the app to promote his reelection bid.

Bolsonaro has over 1 million followers on the social media platform.

Moreover, De Moraes established a daily fine of $20,000 for companies that do not comply with the ruling to block Telegram in Brazil.

Speaking at a religious event in the western state of Acre, Bolsonaro said the court’s decision was “inadmissible”.

According to Moraes’ ruling, Telegram had repeatedly failed to block offending accounts and ignored his court’s decisions.

In response, Telegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov apologised for the company’s “negligence” and asked the court to delay its ruling for a few days as it sought to improve compliance.

Reportedly, the judge also ordered Apple and Google to help block users on their platforms from being able to use Telegram in Brazil. 

Bolsonaro was quick to react, posting a link on Twitter to subscribe to his Telegram channel, which was operating normally.

Turning to Twitter, Justice Minister Anderson Torres criticised Moraes’ “monocratic” decision, which he said had “harmed millions of Brazilians”. 

 “Our Telegram informs people every day of many important actions of national interest, which many regrettably omit,” wrote Bolsonaro. 

“Welcome, and share the truth,” he added.