Brazil: Announced Senacon investigation into Telegram over alleged misleading messages related to Brazilian Law on Freedom, Responsibility and Transparency on the Internet (Bill 2630/20)

On 10 May 2023, the Brasilian National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) opened an investigation into Telegram for sending messages to its users against the Brazilian Law on Freedom, Responsibility and Transparency on the Internet (Bill 2630/20), referred to as Fake News Bill. The company used the consumer data from its platform to send messages defending its position on Bill 2630/20. The Senacon aims to investigate the company's conduct as a service provider and potential violation of consumer rights due to the use of consumer data to send messages defending its position on Bill 2630/20. The Senacon alleges that Telegram breached its terms of use and used the data for purposes not specified in the legal basis for personal data collection and processing as required under the General Law for the Protection of Personal Data (LGPD). Bill 2630/20 is currently being deliberated in the National Congress and aims to create mechanisms to combat the dissemination of false information on digital platforms and hold companies accountable for allowing such information's spread.