Bolsonaro blocks social media criticism, rights group says

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro watches adjust his face mask during a ceremony to launch a program to expand access to credit at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, August 19, 2020. REUTERS / Adriano Machado // File Photo

BRASILIA, Aug. 19 (Reuters) – Brazilian far-right President Jair Bolsonaro blocks social media subscribers who criticize him, violating their rights to freedom of expression and access to information, has Human Rights Watch said Thursday.

The rights group said it had identified 176 accounts blocked by Bolsonaro, including those of journalists, congressmen and social media influencers with more than one million followers.

Social media has been a key means of public communication for Bolsonaro, helping him win office in 2018 and interact with his supporters. He has 6.9 million followers on his Twitter account (TWTR.N), 14.2 million on Facebook (FB.O) and 18.6 million on Facebook’s Instagram photo-sharing app.

“He’s trying to rid his social media accounts of people and institutions that don’t agree with him and turn them into spaces where only applause is allowed,” said Maria Laura Canineu, Human Rights Watch director for Brasil.

The presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As president, Bolsonaro has used social media to make official announcements, comment on foreign affairs, and lash out at his opponents.

Those stranded can no longer comment on its posts, preventing them from participating in public debate and preventing journalists from asking questions, undermining press freedom, Human Rights Watch said.

In April and June, the group posted messages on its Brazilian Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts asking users if Bolsonaro had blocked them. Over 400 said yes, the vast majority on Twitter. Of these, 176 provided screenshots showing their usernames. Most said they were stranded after posting comments criticizing the government.

The blocked subscribers included Brazilian accounts from Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch.

In a case involving former US President Donald Trump, a US court ruled in 2019 that a public official cannot block people from social media accounts used for official business simply because they express opinions with which the agent does not agree.

Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Peter Cooney

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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