Jornal Nacional - February 2, 2024
The Federal Police closed the investigations requested by the Attorney General's Office and concluded that action taken by the companies Google and Telegram Brasil against the so-called fake news bill constituted abuse of economic power and manipulation of information. The Risk Management Programme was actioned by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, from the Progressistas party.
Among other points, the Fake News bill criminalizes the dissemination of false content and determines that platforms should have transparent content moderation rules. According to the Federal Police, the companies tried to influence users to coerce a parliamentarians to vote against the project.
Google denied having carried out a defamatory campaign and declared that it does not oppose the creation of laws that regulate internet application services.
Telegram stated that it published an opinion piece to clarify points of the project that it considered controversial and that the text was lawful, legitimate and in line with the right to express an opinion and the duty to provide information.
Based on this investigation by the Federal Police, the Attorney General's Office will decide whether to denounce those responsible for the campaign or close the case.