The Brazilian government issued a statement on Wednesday (February 26), criticizing the United States’ position regarding the decisions of the Supreme Federal Court to suspend an American social media network in the country.
Previously, the US Department of State released a statement 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 American declaration and “strongly rejects any attempt to politicize judicial decisions.” It emphasized the “importance of respecting the republican principle of the independence of powers, as provided in the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988.”
“The statement from the Department of State distorts the meaning of the decisions of the Supreme Federal Court, which aim to ensure compliance with Brazilian laws, including the requirement that all companies operating in Brazil have legal representatives. Freedom of expression, a fundamental right provided for in Brazilian law, must be exercised in Brazil in accordance with all applicable laws, especially those of a penal nature,” says the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a post on the social media platform X, the US Department of State states that “respect for sovereignty is a two-way street with all US partners, including Brazil.” The message, shared on the profile of the US Embassy in Brazil, continues: “Blocking access to information and imposing fines on US-based companies for refusing to censor individuals in the US is incompatible with democratic values, including freedom of expression.”
The Facts
On February 21, Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court ordered the suspension of the American social media network Rumble in Brazil. The decision came after the minister found that the company does not have a representative in the country.
The suspension was determined in the context of the case in which the arrest and extradition of blogger Allan dos Santos was ordered, accused of disseminating attacks against the Court’s ministers. 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 the “practice of crimes.”
Rumble and Trump Media filed an appeal in a Florida court, accusing Moraes of “censoring” the platforms and suspending user accounts. The American court, however, denied the injunction.
In another initiative, the House Judiciary Committee of the US approved, on Wednesday (26), a bill against foreign officials who allegedly violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of expression. The bill, which specifically mentions the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court minister, seeks to prohibit the entry of such officials into the US and allows for their deportation.
Source: Agência Brasil