Politics · Brazil · 6 hrs ago
Brazil election court orders suspension of pro-Lula WhatsApp channel
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court president, Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, ordered WhatsApp to suspend the “Exército do Lula” channel.
The channel is run by federal lawmaker André Janones.
The order followed a request from presidential candidate and senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who accused Janones of spreading false information and coordinating attacks on his campaign.
Nunes Marques said the channel urged followers to share claims that the electoral court had already deemed false, including claims about Bolsonaro and militias.
He also said Janones encouraged followers to spread posts widely across social media.
The suspension must begin within three hours of WhatsApp receiving notice and remain in place until the second-round result is certified.
Meta, WhatsApp’s owner, must provide details about its actions and the channel’s messages within 48 hours; the court will later consider whether Janones can be barred from running other channels.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court ordered WhatsApp to suspend the pro-Lula channel “Exército do Lula” within three hours of receiving notice.
The channel is administered by federal deputy André Janones.
The order followed a request by presidential candidate and senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who accused Janones of spreading false information and coordinating attacks on his campaign.
The suspension is to remain in place until the result of the election’s second round is certified.
The court also ordered Meta to provide information about the channel and preserve records.
- Who
- The Superior Electoral Court, led by president Kassio Nunes Marques, ordered the suspension. The channel is administered by André Janones.
- What
- WhatsApp was ordered to suspend the “Exército do Lula” channel.
- When
- Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- The order followed Flávio Bolsonaro’s accusation that the channel spread false information and coordinated attacks on his campaign.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Kassio Nunes Marques ordered WhatsApp to suspend the channel within three hours of notification.
Meta must provide information about measures taken against the channel, other channels administered by Janones, and published messages, including deleted ones.
The suspension is to remain in force.
- Channel
- Exército do Lula
- Administrator
- Federal deputy André Janones
- Suspension deadline
- Within three hours of notification
- Meta response deadline
- 48 hours
- Record preservation
- At least one year
Sources
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