Facebook takes stand against Brazil President Bolsonaro's horror response to Coronavirus

Major social media companies are taking aim at Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s dismissal of social distancing, joining ors in country who have lined up against his controversial stance regarding new coronavirus.

Facebook and Instagram removed posts by far-right leer Monday night that showed Bolsonaro walking around outside capital Brasilia on Sunday and mingling with groups. It was yet ar affront to World Health Organization recommendations to self-isolate as a means to contain pandemic. companies’ move came one day after Twitter also removed some Bolsonaro posts.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, said in a statement that it removes content “that violates our community standards, which do t allow disinformation that might cause real dam to people.”

Twitter justified its decision by saying in a statement that its rules prohibit content that runs “against public health information given by official sources and can put people at greater risk of transmitting COVID-19.”

Bolsonaro is one of few world leers who insist virus itself will cause less harm than shutting down ecomy. He has received vocal backing from his supporters — both on social media and in several cities where y std demonstrations demanding life return to rmal — but his attitude has also been rejected by mayors, state goverrs and judges. Even some members of Bolsonaro’s own ministration have insisted on bro lockdown measures that run contrary to his statements.

Last Thursday, Bolsonaro issued a decree that ded religious activities to list of “essential services,” meaning churches could remain open even though goverrs h banned large garings. decree was overruled by a federal court following day.

Supreme Court Justice Marco Aurélio Mello authorized an opposition lawmaker’s request for Bolsonaro’s own prosecutor general to investigate an alleged crime committed by president, Supreme Court’s website said Tuesday. allegation of endangering public is based on Bolsonaro encouraging people to disobey isolation measures, calling concern over pandemic “hysteria” and characterizing virus itself as “a little flu” and “a little cold.” judge’s action requires prosecutor general to issue a legal opinion.

In an interview with newspaper O Globo, Prosecutor General Augusto Aras said that Bolsonaro is free to express his opinion and go out in public so long as he doesn’t issue any official decrees that counter bro lockdown guidelines, which could tre into territory that requires legal evaluation.

Despite president’s open skepticism, senior members of his own Cabinet have insisted on hewing closely to guidelines recommended by international health authorities. “Always technical, always scientific, always doing maximum we can to preserve lives,” Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told reporters on Monday.

As of Monday, Brazil’s federal government reported more than 4,579 cases of Covid-19 and 159 deaths, largest figures in Latin America.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially elderly and people with preexisting health conditions, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Bolsonaro has 12 million followers on Facebook, almost 16 million on Instagram and more than 6 million on Twitter. Social media was key for his election victory in 2018.

Twitter recently deleted posts from Venezuela’s President Nicolás Muro for sharing speculation about possible unusual cures for Covid-19.