Brazil’s supreme court upholds move to ban fake news

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court had voted to uphold a decision by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to fast-track the removal of fake news from social media ahead of the country’s presidential runoff.

In its ruling, the supreme court dismissed a request filed on Sunday by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to suspend parts of the TSE’s resolution, citing the risk of censorship.

Six judges voted in favour of the decision, a sufficient majority to uphold the measure, while other supreme court members still have until midnight to submit their votes.

TSE’s resolution grants it the power to order websites to remove content considered to be fake news within two hours.

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Starting on Saturday, the day before the Oct. 30, runoff, fake news must be removed within an hour.

The TSE can also suspend channels that repeatedly publish fake news. (Xinhua/NAN)