Electoral court in Brazil drops Facebook case

AP FILE PHOTO

BRASILIA – A court Saturday reversed an order that would have blocked access to Facebook in Brazil for a day after the popular US social media site allegedly refused to pull a page including illegal political material.

An electoral court in Florianopolis, capital of the southern state of Santa Catarina, voided the ruling which also included a fine of about $25,000.

Facebook was accused this week by electoral court judge Felipe Siegert Schuch of refusing to comply with an order to take down a page deemed offensive to local councilman Dalmo Menezes, who is seeking reelection in October.

The information against the candidate was negative and anonymous which is illegal in Brazil.

The US company said in a message to AFP it was pleased with the new ruling.