Lies and messaging in Brazil

BRAZIL’S Supreme Court has blocked popular messaging application Telegram, barring one of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s favourite communication channels.

Citing Telegram’s failure to comply with orders from Brazilian authorities and remove messages found to contain disinformation, Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the app blocked immediately in Brazil.

The decision comes as Bolsonaro gears up to seek reelection in October, facing a popularity slump and counting on Telegram to rally his base.

Telegram is huge in Brazil, where it has been downloaded on 53 per cent of all phones.

Bolsonaro, who has had various posts blocked on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for violating their rules on misinformation, has been eagerly encouraging his base to follow him on Telegram ahead of the October elections.