TSE Orders Instagram to Remove 13 Fonasefe Posts
The ruling enforces a court interpretation that bars campaign messaging by legal entities, prompting claims of censorship during the presidential race.
Overview
- The TSE decision signed by Minister Marco Aurélio Bellizze gave Meta 24 hours to take down specific Instagram posts and prohibited their republication.
- Meta complied with the order and removed 13 posts from Fonasefe’s official account following a representation by presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro.
- Fonasefe says the posts did not ask for votes and were based on press reports and public statements, argues it is not a formal legal entity, and calls the removals censorship.
- The removed material included criticism of measures from Jair Bolsonaro’s government and posts critical of Flávio Bolsonaro’s proposals, such as a piece titled 'Lembrar para Não Esquecer – 5 Ataques de Bolsonaro aos Serviços e Servidores Públicos'.
- The court grounded the order in electoral rules that bar propaganda by persons jurídica and cited related Supreme Court jurisprudence, raising questions about how representative groups can speak during campaigns and whether Fonasefe will appeal.