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last mo.

STF Shields Civil-Society Campaigns, Sets High Bar for Liability

The binding ruling arose from an animal-rights appeal over Barretos rodeo posts restricted by a São Paulo court.

Ministros entenderam que “campanhas de cancelamento” estão protegidas pela liberdade de expressão, desde que não haja informações falsas.
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Overview

  • In an 8–2 vote, the Court held that campaigns by civil-society groups to discourage funding or institutional support are protected as free expression.
  • Civil remedies such as halting campaigns or removing online content are allowed only with proven bad faith, defined as knowing falsehood or gross negligence in fact-checking.
  • The case originated with Projeto Esperança Animal’s challenge to a ruling that censored criticism of alleged cruelty at the Festa do Peão de Barretos.
  • Minister Alexandre de Moraes authored the thesis that prevailed after an earlier virtual session led by then-Justice Luís Roberto Barroso.
  • Justices Edson Fachin and Luiz Fux dissented over the ruling’s scope, while Minister Flávio Dino backed the majority, noting boycotts are not illicit absent false claims.