Brazilian court orders Apple and Google to block Telegram over disinformation

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The Telegram messaging app has been ordered to be blocked by the Brazilian Supreme Court. Telegram must be suspended until it complies with local orders and pays fines, according to a sealed order handed down today. Telegram has become a communications hub for President Jair Bolsonaro as it has failed to prevent users from spreading misinformation.

Brazilian authorities threatened to suspend Telegram earlier this year, saying it hadn't responded to requests to fight false election information. Telegram responded in February by removing three channels from Allan dos Santos, a supporter of Bolosnaro, for allegedly spreading misinformation and inciting violence. According to an Associated Press description of today's order, Moraes said the company had been uncooperative with authorities. The order gives Apple, Google, and local phone carriers five days to block Telegram, while Anatel has 24 hours to implement an official suspension.

As the case is sealed, we will not be commenting, as we received a Supreme Court order regarding the messaging app Telegram in Brazil.

Telegram is caught in a crossfire between the Supreme Court and Bolsonaro, who is accused of leaking police documents and making false statements about AIDS. Bolsonaro has called for the impeachment of Moraes. Telegram has been criticized for offering a place where far-right political figures can post false information and hate speech to avoid being deplatformed from services like Facebook. It was banned in Russia for refusing to share encryption keys in anti-terrorism investigations, but that prohibition was lifted in 2020. Brazil's legal system has previously ordered blocks of Telegram competitor, but the bans have proven to be short-lived.