"Brazilian radio station Jovem Pan was ordered by the Federal Court of São Paulo to pay a compensation of 1.5 million Brazilian reais [around US$280,000] for collective moral damages. The decision [...] is considered by legal experts to be a dangerous tool for protecting authorities.
The network was accused by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Government of promoting disinformation and endangering democracy. The accusation is based on comments made by political analysts who, during 2022, criticized the Brazilian electoral system, the Superior Electoral Court, and ministers of the Supreme Federal Court.
[...]
Legal experts warn of the risk of lawfare, a term that describes the use of laws and courts to persecute political opponents. [...] The decision sends a clear message to the press, especially opinion journalism. It sets a precedent in which criticism of the authorities and the system can become a risky financial liability."
