Brazil

Attacks against communicators, threats to protest rights, and challenges to the right to information and privacy are among the biggest free expression concerns in Brazil. Attacks against and killings of communicators reporting on controversial issues are often met with impunity, particularly for the powerful ‘masterminds’ of attacks.  Criminalisation of the right to protest has also been on the increase over the past few years, through negative legal decisions in cases related to the right to protest, and the proposal of restrictive laws that seek to curb protests. Police brutality against protestors and communicators who cover protests has also become a worryingly regular occurrence.

In 2012, a new Access to Information Law was approved, but the challenge now is to promote implementation of the law by public bodies. Access to information on sensitive issues is still a problem, as information may not be produced – examples of problematic areas are information on national and public security, on environmental issues (extractives, etc), and on violence against women. For free expression in the online sphere, there have been several bills proposed that threaten privacy and other rights online, and will have a damaging effect on free expression.

ARTICLE 19 in Brazil works to monitor violations against communicators and advocates for protection measures, as well as providing legal support to journalists at risk. We provide legal opinions for cases related to protest rights, and provide legal analyses on laws threatening free expression.  We report on the compliance of public bodies with their access to information obligations and engage in workshops and training for community broadcasters and community internet providers, to broaden access to information, particularly in rural and remote communities.

HRC44: Freedom of expression and COVID-19
10.07.2020 4 min read

HRC44: Freedom of expression and COVID-19

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HRC44: Organisations denounce Bolsonaro government attacks on women journalists
10.07.2020 3 min read

HRC44: Organisations denounce Bolsonaro government attacks on women journalists

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HRC44: Action needed on violence against women journalists
07.07.2020 6 min read

HRC44: Action needed on violence against women journalists

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Brazil: ‘Fake news’ law threatens freedom of expression
03.07.2020 3 min read

Brazil: ‘Fake news’ law threatens freedom of expression

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Brazil: Government must publish verified coronavirus figures
08.06.2020 4 min read

Brazil: Government must publish verified coronavirus figures

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Brazil: Media freedom at crisis point as Government fails to protect journalists
02.06.2020 4 min read

Brazil: Media freedom at crisis point as Government fails to protect journalists

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Brazil: Government must protect freedom of expression in its response to coronavirus
09.04.2020 2 min read

Brazil: Government must protect freedom of expression in its response to coronavirus

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ARTICLE 19 condemns cybercrime charges against journalist Glenn Greenwald
21.01.2020 2 min read

ARTICLE 19 condemns cybercrime charges against journalist Glenn Greenwald

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Brazil: International call for press freedom following attacks against The Intercept journalists
02.08.2019 3 min read

Brazil: International call for press freedom following attacks against The Intercept journalists

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