Brazil's Justice Ministry changed a rating for Record's biblical cartoons, but did not ban them

Posts on TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp claimed that the Lula government had banned children from watching the biblical cartoons shown by broadcaster Record. Two Brazilian fact-checkers, Aos Fatos and Agência Lupa, say that is false. What actually happened was a change to an age rating, which the Justice Ministry reversed a few days later.

What's being claimed

The viral posts say a government decision means children can no longer watch Bible stories on Record. One example quoted by Aos Fatos reads, in effect, that your child will no longer be able to watch Bible stories on the channel. According to Aos Fatos, these posts had reached at least 200,000 views on TikTok, 100,000 on X and 104,000 interactions on Instagram and Facebook by 3 November. They also circulate on WhatsApp, where reach cannot be measured. A video checked by Lupa added that the cartoons could only air after 8 p.m.

Alongside this, opposition lawmakers such as Nikolas Ferreira, Sóstenes Cavalcante and Bia Kicis criticized the decision. Lupa reports that Nikolas accused the government of religious persecution and said he would file a bill to overturn the ordinance.

What the evidence shows

The rating change is real. On 28 October 2026 the Ministry of Justice moved "Record Kids – Desenhos Bíblicos" from all ages to not recommended for under-12s, citing violence, criminal acts, legal drugs and prejudice. Aos Fatos says the ordinance does not specify which scenes or episodes prompted this.

But a rating is not a ban. Both fact-checkers explain that Brazil's rating system tells parents which ages a work is not recommended for. It does not stop children from watching or the channel from broadcasting. The ministry's own description, quoted by Aos Fatos, says the policy is meant to inform parents and preserve their right to choose.

The 8 p.m. claim also fails. The time is a recommendation tied to the 12+ rating. Lupa says a 2016 Supreme Court decision prevents ratings from being used to impose broadcast times, and its source for this is the ministry's 2025 practical guide. Aos Fatos adds that Record could keep airing the show on Sunday mornings.

Lupa also reports that on 3 November the ministry restored the all-ages rating. It said the first review did not fully apply the guide's criteria, especially the treatment of religious and cultural context and the mitigating factors. These include childlike animation style and fantasy portrayal.

The persecution charge is a political accusation. Neither fact-check provides evidence of religious motive.

How outlets covered it

Both outlets are fact-checkers and reach the same core conclusion. Aos Fatos focuses on the mechanics of the rating system and the posts' reach. It does not mention the reversal. It also says the ministry did not respond before publication, and it gives the ordinance number as 2,272.

Agência Lupa, published a day later, adds the reversal, the ministry's explanation, the Supreme Court background and the reaction from opposition lawmakers. It gives the number as 2,270. The two articles differ only on that detail and on timing.

What we still don't know

The ordinance number is inconsistent between the two articles, and we cannot tell from them which is correct. Aos Fatos reports that the ordinance does not say which scenes triggered the rating, so the specific content behind the 28 October decision is unknown. Lupa does not say whether Nikolas Ferreira's bill was filed, and neither article tells us whether Record changed its schedule. Finally, the ministry's explanation points to a flawed application of its criteria, but the articles do not explain how the original review was carried out.