AGU removes 18 Telegram channels selling fake vaccine certificates in Brazil

The Brazilian Attorney General's Office (AGU) successfully secured the removal of 18 Telegram groups and channels used for the illegal sale of falsified vaccination certificates and passports. Following a report from the Ministry of Health, the platform removed the content and deleted the account of an identified user.

Beyond selling fraudulent documents, the groups advertised the ability to insert adulterated records directly into the official Unified Health System (SUS) databases. Authorities warned that such manipulation compromises national immunization policies by distorting vaccination coverage data and creating undetected pockets of low vaccination, which facilitates the spread of preventable diseases.

The AGU has forwarded the evidence gathered by the Ministry of Health to the Federal Police for criminal investigation. The legal notification to Telegram cited potential violations of the Consumer Defense Code, the Penal Code, and the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet, emphasizing the responsibility of platforms regarding illicit content.