Meeting of the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters in 2022| Photograph:

The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT) released a note stating that it “follows with concern” the successive boycott campaigns promoted by the Sleeping Giants Brasil group against certain communication vehicles.

The Sleeping Giants organization pursues private companies on social networks with the aim of putting pressure on them to stop advertising in the press organizations they have decided to pursue. Companies have their profiles tagged and start to receive threats of being publicly embarrassed. Afraid of being involved in image crises, some companies end up giving in to the Sleeping Giants’ blackmail.

“This is an unequivocal act of intimidation whose purpose is the economic weakening of communication vehicles, with serious repercussions and damage to various press professionals who legitimately exercise their professional activity”, wrote ABERT.

ABERT stated that these intimidating actions “do not represent the adequate path for the improvement of our society, freedom of expression and press, and the Democratic State of Law”.

Sleeping Giants Brasil is a copy of a movement of the same name that emerged in the United States. In free translation, the name in English means “Sleeping Giants”.

Since it emerged in Brazil in 2020, the group has exhibited a left-wing political bias, despite presenting itself as a neutral initiative to combat the spread of fake news. While right-wing vehicles and public figures are attacked, left-wing characters and bodies are spared. A People’s Gazette has already been among the persecuted press vehicles.

ABERT was founded in 1962 and represents more than 3,000 private radio and television stations in the country. Its mission is to defend freedom of expression in all its forms.