The removal of Jovem Pan is a disproportionate and unconstitutional measure

The Association of Broadcasting Stations of Paraná (Aerp) published a note in which it claims to consider the action presented by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) to be dangerous and extremely serious, asking for the cancellation of three public radio concessions of the Jovem Pan group. The entity stated that, although it considers it important to combat misinformation, the initiative is disproportionate and violates principles of the Constitution.

“While it is important to combat the spread of misinformation and promote the reliability of the electoral process, the cancellation of broadcasting concessions is a disproportionate measure and violates this nation’s constitutional principles,” he said.

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, and also condemn the company to pay R$ 13.4 million for alleged collective moral damages for the content broadcast, the MPF used opinionated comments from journalists and the concept of “systematic disinformation” defended by the TSE in the elections of last year. 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”.

Read the full statement from Aert:

“We at the Association of Broadcasting Stations of Paraná (Aerp) follow with great concern the request for cancellation of the Jovem Pan concessions, made by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF).

We consider the act a new and very dangerous step towards restricting freedom of expression, an extremely serious measure with even more severe consequences.

While it is important to combat the spread of misinformation and promote the reliability of the electoral process, the cancellation of broadcasting concessions is a disproportionate measure and violates this nation’s constitutional principles.

We ask the competent authorities to preserve the democratic and plural environment that must prevail and be encouraged in the media.

We pray that order, reason and respect be promptly restored in Brazil.”