Good morning! Today, Bolsonaro launches his own social media platform — of sorts. Wind power could see a boost with new decree. Electoral authorities decide on free campaign airtime.
How Bolsonaro is preparing for social media bans
On Monday, Jair Bolsonaro announced the launch of “Bolsonaro TV,” a cell phone app that gathers all of the president’s social media posts into a single platform. The owner of the app is listed as being a man who works in the office of Rio de Janeiro City Councilor Carlos Bolsonaro, the president’s second-eldest son — as his community manager of sorts.
- In a matter of days, Bolsonaro TV climbed to the fifth position in the App Store’s rankings for social networking apps.
Why it matters. The new app is a way for Mr. Bolsonaro to prepare for social media bans, amid increasing pressure for platforms to punish accounts spreading misinformation ahead of the 2022 election.
Content. Last year, Mr. Bolsonaro unsuccessfully tried to prevent social media platforms from removing content and suspending accounts that violate their terms and use. He issued a provisional decree that was quickly struck down by the Senate.
Red flags. Multiple members of the Bolsonaro family, including the president...