AGU creates group to regulate the Prosecutor for the Defense of Democracy

The Attorney General’s Office (AGU) published today (20) in the Official Journal of the Union (DOU) a normative ordinance establishing the working group to create regulations for the new National Attorney’s Office of the Union for the Defense of Democracy. The new branch of the AGU, created by presidential decree at the beginning of the year, will act in the fight against misinformation about public policies, according to official justification. The creation of the new structure was announced by the Advocate General of the Union, Jorge Messias, on January 2nd. “It establishes a Working Group within the scope of the Attorney General’s Office, with the purpose of obtaining subsidies and contributions from civil society organizations and public authorities to assist in the elaboration of the regulations of the National Attorney of the Union for the Defense of Democracy”, says the text of the ordinance this Friday (20). The norm foresees that the work to elaborate the regulation of the new organ should last 30 days, extendable. The working group meetings can take place in person or in a virtual and hybrid way. “The group will provide transparency to the work and the debate it will provide will be fundamental for the improvement and clarification of the purposes of the new Attorney’s Office”, said Messias, in a note. Since the announcement, jurists and specialists have shown fear about risks to freedom of expression in the performance of the new prosecution. “In the specific case of what will be the object of action by the AGU, disinformation is characterized by untrue or supposedly out of context facts brought to public knowledge on a voluntary basis with the aim of harming the proper execution of public policies, with real harm to society”, explained the AGU. Invitations One principal and one alternate representative from each of the following entities will be invited to participate in the working group: Brazilian Bar Association (OAB); Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert); National Association of Journalists (ANJ); Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji); Brazilian Press Association (ABI); and the National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj); in addition to nominees from the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and the National Council of the Public Ministry (CNMP). Lawyers and specialists were also invited to join the group, as well as representatives of the Ministries of Justice and Public Security and of Human Rights and Citizenship, as well as the Social Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic. The coordination will be by the Attorney General of the Union, Marcelo Eugenio Feitosa Almeida. The AGU must also appoint two representatives, in addition to a member of the General Consultancy Secretariat. “Representatives of checking agencies, specialists in the matter under discussion and representative entities of the Judiciary Power and the essential functions of Justice should also be invited to participate in the meetings, propose collaborations and present technical notes”, said the AGU today. At the end of the works, a regulation draft must be placed in public consultation, before it can be published.

Agência Brasil