Mendonça orders social media to remove posts about Flávio Bolsonaro and Our Lady of Aparecida
In case of non-compliance, a fine of 50,000 reais per day was set for each platform.
TL;DR
- Justice André Mendonça ordered social media platforms to remove posts falsely stating Flávio Bolsonaro or his family plan to remove Our Lady of Aparecida's title as Brazil's patron saint.
- Platforms must also proactively prevent new posts spreading the same narrative without further court orders.
- A daily fine of 50,000 reais is set for each platform in case of non-compliance.
- Mendonça classified the information as 'verifiably untrue,' stating there is no basis for the allegation.
- The decision expands a previous order in a case filed by Flávio Bolsonaro against comedian Antonio Tabet.
- The false narrative had reportedly reached over 21 million views on social media.
- The order excludes journalistic content, posts debunking the claim, or critical opinions not presenting the allegation as fact.
- The controversy originated from a 2007 bill proposing to change the reference from 'patron saint of Brazil' to 'patron saint of Roman Catholic Apostolic Brazilians,' which was archived in 2008.
- Social media posts began associating Flávio Bolsonaro with the false claim after a journalist mentioned a supposed movement among Catholics reacting to evangelicals mobilizing a project to remove the title.