10 moments that reveal the excesses of the fake news inquiry
The fake news inquiry accumulated controversial decisions and questions about freedom of expression and due process.
TL;DR
- The 'fake news inquiry' was created in March 2019 to investigate false news, threats, and attacks against Supreme Court ministers.
- It targeted politicians, businessmen, journalists, and public officials, leading to debates on freedom of expression and due process.
- STF President Edson Fachin ordered the definitive archiving of the inquiry after a request from the Prosecutor General's Office.
- Key episodes included censorship of Crusoé magazine and O Antagonista website, rejection of the Prosecutor General's order to close the inquiry, and concentration of powers in Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
- The inquiry also involved the investigation of Federal Revenue auditors, blocking of social media accounts, operations against businessmen, and the creation of derived investigations like the 'digital militias inquiry'.
- The inquiry was marked by controversy, including the blocking of the PCO party's social media accounts and a judicial crisis within the STF.
- Despite its archiving, past decisions and ongoing criminal proceedings initiated from the investigations are not annulled.