Judge Alexandre de Moraes, sitting on Brazil’s top court, has decided to close an investigation into Alphabet’s Google and messaging app Telegram for purportedly coordinating efforts against a proposed bill targeting fake news. The bill, which remains under review, aims to mandate that internet platforms detect and report illegal content, imposing substantial fines for non-compliance.
The judge’s decision followed the advice of Brazil’s deputy prosecutor general, who argued against initiating criminal proceedings against the tech giants. Last year, Moraes had initiated an investigation into executives from Google and Telegram regarding their alleged actions related to the bill.
The closure of the investigation marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over regulation of online content in Brazil, where concerns about misinformation and digital platform accountability continue to provoke legislative and judicial scrutiny.
