The court also increased the fine imposed on the company, From 100,000 reals to 1 million reals ($200,000) for each day of delay in providing data. Operators Vivo, Claro, Tim and Oi, as well as Google and Apple, the companies responsible for the Play Market and App Store respectively, received copies of the order to suspend Telegram, which should be implemented immediately.

Details of the investigation

Police launched an investigation after the 16-year-old assailant, who attacked a school in Aracruz and killed four, was linked to anti-Semitic groups on Telegram. A police investigation revealed that the juvenile delinquent was a member of Telegram groups that spread extremist material promoting violence and hatred towards minorities and neo-Nazi ideals.

Although Telegram provided some data after a previous request for judicial intervention, the contacts and details of the members and administrators of the neo-Nazi group were not received by the police, which led to the platform being suspended in Brazil.

User response

Telegram’s blocking in Brazil has raised concerns among users who rely on most communication platforms. The move has also sparked debate about the balance between privacy and law enforcement, and the responsibility of tech companies to provide data to authorities.

It is unknown how long Telegram will be suspended in Brazil, but the Justice Department said the platform will be unblocked only after the police fulfill the data request.