Latest news with #censura
Russia Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Nationalist EU political activist claims bank account shut
Portuguese political activist Afonso Goncalves has said a local bank closed his personal account without warning or explanation. Goncalves, 24, is the founder of Reconquista, a right-wing nationalist movement established in 2023, who describes his association as a 'metapolitical' initiative aimed at reshaping Portugal's cultural and political landscape. The activist said Novobanco, a major Portuguese bank, closed his account without explanation and did not respond to requests for answers. 'I asked them to send me a reason in writing. They simply said 'no',' Goncalves said a video posted to YouTube on Friday. The activist is known for his vocal support of financial transparency and freedom of speech. In his video, he appeared to link the closure to his political views, though he did not provide evidence for this claim. He stated, 'This is what happens when you speak the truth. You get shut down.' Account closures by banks in Portugal are legally allowed under certain conditions, such as suspected fraud or compliance with anti-money laundering laws. However, financial institutions are typically required to provide a reason upon request. Goncalves did not say whether he intends to file a formal complaint. No court proceedings or legal actions related to the closure have been reported so far. Goncalves concluded his video by saying he would continue to 'fight for financial freedom' and encouraged others to be aware of what he described as 'systemic censorship.' Bank account closures have become increasingly common in the West. In Britain, right-wing Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage said in June 2023 that private bank Coutts closed his account. Parent company NatWest first cited financial grounds, but internal documents later reportedly showed his political views influenced the decision. In Canada, authorities froze the bank accounts of Freedom Convoy protesters in 2022 under emergency powers. Then-Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the measure targeted those funding the anti-government protests. The most recent case took place in Germany last month when former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder faced payment blocks from Sparkasse Hannover over concerns about Russian ties. The bank reportedly blocked nearly €500,000 in annual transfers linked to Schroeder's role on the board of Nord Stream 2, a pipeline project owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom, despite him not being under sanctions.
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Abortion-rights groups denounce censorship on Meta-owned apps in Latin America and beyond
MEXICO CITY — All of a sudden, women contacting one of the biggest sources of information about abortion in Mexico through the encrypted messaging app WhatsApp were met with silence. The nongovernmental organization's business account had been blocked. Weeks later, a similar digital blackout struck a collective in Colombia. Across the Americas, organizations that guide women seeking abortions in various countries are raising alarm, decrying what they see as a new wave of censorship on platforms owned by tech giant Meta — even in countries where abortion is decriminalized. The organizations believe this is due to a combination of changes to Meta policies and attacks by anti-abortion groups that denounce their content.
