Canceling Jovem Pan concession is an extreme and serious measure, says Abert

The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT) stated that the action presented by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) that requests the cancellation of three public radio concessions of the Jovem Pan group is “worrying”. The entity also recalled that the withdrawal of a radio broadcasting license “is an extreme and serious measure, unprecedented in our Democratic Rule of Law” (read the full note below).

In the action against Jovem Pan, prosecutors Yuri Corrêa da Luz and Ana Letícia Absy accuse the station of promoting “wide-scale disinformation” about the electoral system, with “potential of inciting violence and the rupture of the democratic order”. According to prosecutors, the news broadcast by the station would have legitimized the invasion of the buildings of the Three Powers in Brasília, on January 8.

To justify the request, plus the condemnation of the company to pay BRL 13.4 million for alleged collective moral damages for the content broadcast, the MPF used the concept of “systematic disinformation” defended by the TSE in last year’s elections. For the TSE, it was necessary to overthrow information considered false by the court or even true, but that if poorly contextualized could cause an “informational disorder”. Based on this thesis, the body granted itself police power, which is not provided for in Brazilian legislation, and determined the temporary suspension of accounts, profiles or channels on social media and even ordered the blocking of platforms that would fail to comply. repeatedly at your orders.

Read the full statement from Abert:

“The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT) is very concerned about the public civil action filed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which requests the cancellation of the grants granted to the Jovem Pan News radio.

The cancellation of a broadcasting license is an extreme and serious measure, without precedent in our Democratic State of Law.

Broadcasters’ freedom of programming is essential for the free exercise of journalism and for the existence of pluralism of opinion, which must always be preserved.

ABERT will be vigilant in defending freedom of expression and of the press and will monitor the unfolding of the action.”