The Brazilian government issued a statement on Wednesday (February 26), criticizing the United States’ stance regarding the decisions of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend an American social media network in the country.
The U.S. State Department released a note warning that “blocking access to information” or imposing fines on American companies is “incompatible with freedom of expression.”
In a statement, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “surprise” at the U.S. statement and “firmly repudiates any attempt to politicize judicial decisions.” The Ministry emphasized the “importance of respecting the republican principle of the independence of powers, as established in the Federal Constitution of 1988.”
“The State Department’s statement distorts the meaning of the Supreme Court’s decisions, which aim to ensure the enforcement of Brazilian laws, including the requirement that all companies operating in Brazil have legal representatives. Freedom of expression, a fundamental right enshrined in Brazilian law, must be exercised in Brazil in accordance with all applicable laws, especially those of a criminal nature,” says the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a post on the social media platform X, the U.S. State Department states that “respecting sovereignty is a two-way street with all U.S. partners, including Brazil.” The message, shared on the U.S. Embassy’s profile in Brazil, continues: “Blocking access to information and imposing fines on U.S.-based companies for refusing to censor individuals in the U.S. is incompatible with democratic values, including freedom of expression.”The Facts
On February 21, Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the American social media network Rumble in Brazil. The decision followed the minister’s observation that the company does not have a representative in the country.
The suspension was issued while the arrest and extradition of blogger Allan dos Santos, accused of spreading attacks against STF ministers, were ordered. He currently resides in the United States.
According to Moraes, despite the suspension of his social media profiles, Allan continues to create new pages to persist in “committing crimes.”
Rumble and Trump Media filed an appeal in a Florida court, accusing Moraes of “censoring” the platforms and suspending user accounts. However, the U.S. court denied the injunction.
In another initiative, the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill on Wednesday (26) targeting foreign authorities who allegedly violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of expression. The bill, which specifically mentions STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, seeks to prohibit these authorities from entering the U.S. and allows for their deportation.Source: Agência Brasil