Brazil Charges Journalist Glenn Greenwald with Cybercrimes

Brazilian authorities charged Glenn Greenwald with cybercrimes on Tuesday for his role in spreading text messages that have been embarrassing to the government. Federal prosecutors have accused the journalist of being part of a ‘criminal organization’.

The messages Greenwald released were published by Intercept Brazil and were damaging to prosecutors, undermining their reputation as an anti-corruption task force. A report in the New York Times outlined the charges against Greenwald.

Prosecutors allege Greenwald ‘hacked into the cellphones of several prosecutors and other public officials last year.’ Greenwald is the co-founder of Intercept Brazil, a news organization that has reported on the government of President Jair Bolsonaro and based stories on the cellphone messages.

Greenwald could not be reached for comment by the New York Times and details are not yet forthcoming. According to the newspaper’s report, Greenwald received leaked messages and used them as the basis of articles tarnishing prosecutors’ reputation.

The Brazilian government has targeted Greenwald for some time, however. This is a serious escalation of attacks on press freedom in a country now ruled by the right-wing President Bolsonaro, who has made no secret of his distaste for his opponents in the press.