TSE suspends website that offers cryptocurrency to anyone who publishes content advocating voting for Flávio Bolsonaro

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) ordered the suspension of a website that sells cryptocurrencies and is offering tokens (digital assets that can be transferred and exchanged for money) to anyone who participates in a campaign that promotes a "community" that openly defends voting for Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) in the dispute for the Presidency of the Republic.

The website, which also promises to help children in Uganda, was called the initiative "Brazil 22 Token (B22)" and was launched on Tuesday, according to Folha de São Paulo. The project was promoted on Instagram by the profile @hyperskidsafrica, owned by Ugandan children, which has 12.9 million followers and appears on the cryptocurrency website as an "official partner".

In the decision, Minister Estela Aranha responded to a request from President Lula's coalition (PT) and ordered the immediate suspension of the website and the end of the distribution of tokens.

"The documentation presented reveals concrete elements capable of demonstrating the legal plausibility of the allegation that the program called 'Brazil 22 Token' goes beyond the mere political manifestation of supporters and constitutes, in theory, a structured mechanism for granting an economic advantage linked to the dissemination of content of a political-electoral nature", says the decision.

The minister also determined that measures be taken to remove content on social networks and preserve the posts and data of those involved. The decision also included breaking the confidentiality of the registration data of the accounts from which the cryptocurrencies came.

Candidate mentioned in images

The PT coalition's legal team questioned the issue at the TSE on Thursday (9), filing an electoral judicial investigation action (AIJE) on suspicion of abuse of economic power and misuse of the media.

An Instagram post that showed children dancing with campaign t-shirts encouraged the purchase of the $B22 cryptocurrency and cited Flávio Bolsonaro himself, federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) and Pablo Marçal (PRTB), who tried to run for president, but was blocked by the courts and now supports Flávio.

"We received 120 million $B22 tokens through this partnership! A movement that supports HypersKids and believes in a better Brazil. We support the vision of @nikolasferreiradm, @flaviobolsonaro and @pablomarcal1. Join us: buy $B22, share on your social networks and visit the website to find out how to earn tokens inspiring other people to vote 22!", said the children's Instagram post.

The Brasil 22 campaign website says that it is "a movement that combines support for vote 22 and the proposal to help HypersKids complete their home in Kampala".

The electoral law prohibits offering economic advantages to those who publish electoral propaganda on the internet and prohibits companies from donating resources to electoral campaigns and candidates, including with cryptocurrencies. Three experts interviewed by g1 point to signs of violation of the law in the Brasil 22 Token campaign published on the profile of Ugandan children.

On Thursday, g1 reached out to Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, but received no response. Brasil22 and hyperskidsafrica were also contacted. The space remains open for demonstrations.