Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro's allies face Twitter, Facebook ban following court order

In Brazil, Facebook and Twitter have blocked accounts of some key high-profile supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro. According to reports, ban for Bolsonaro’s allies comes following a Supreme Court order.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes is reported to have ordered a ban on 16 Twitter accounts and 12 Facebook accounts on July 24 after a probe claimed that those specific accounts were linked to spre of disinformation.

As per reports, among accounts blocked is one that belongs to Roberto Jefferson, who is a former congressman as well as president of conservative PTB Party. Or suspended accounts reportedly include businessmen Lucia Hang, Edgar Corona, and Oscar Fakhoury, and activist Sara Giromini, widely kwn as Sarah Winter.

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According to reports, order to ban all listed accounts was first issued in May but it was t put in motion. On Saturday, order was passed again in a bid to stop accounts in question from engaging in alleged criminal conduct.

Facebook, in a statement, said that it respects judiciary and would comply with any valid court order. Twitter also echoed sentiment and said that it h acted in accordance with legal orders.

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'Impedes right to liberty of expression' 

If one attempts to go to blocked accounts, one will be greeted with mess that states that accounts were blocked in response to a legal order.  Bolsonaro allies did t waste any time in coming out with a response to ban.

PTB party claimed that y were appalled by yet ar 'arbitrary decision' aimed to censor a certain group and its line of thought, impeding  right to liberty of expression and opinion on social media.

As per reports, Winter, ar victim of ban stated that she would take up ban with several international human rights organisations as  move was a serious breach of her right to freedom of speech and expression.

Brazilian President Bolsonaro is yet to comment on ban but is reported to have criticised investigation in past while ding that court inquiry is a threat to free speech.

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