BRAZIL
When News Becomes a Weapon
Brazilian federal police raided the homes and offices of allies of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro Wednesday, part of an investigation into a network that allegedly carried out fake news attacks against the Supreme Court, Reuters reported.
The operation was executed in six cities and primarily focused on social media posts that allegedly spread defamatory claims about the chief justices.
The targets of the raid included a congressman, Douglas Garcia, a Bolsonaro supporter, who called the raid a left-wing assault, according to the Guardian.
Bolsonaro’s son Carlos Bolsonaro also criticized the raid as part of an “unconstitutional, political and ideological” investigation. Last month, police identified Carlos Bolsonaro as one of the key members of the “criminal fake news racket” engaged in threatening and defaming Brazilian authorities.
Supporters of Bolsonaro have expressed frustration at the court for limiting the powers of the president. They have been demonstrating in front of the court on weekends demanding its closure.
Opposition politicians, meanwhile, have praised the raids and have accused Bolsonaro of building “a fake news network that operates from within the presidential palace and the offices of congressional allies.”
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