Government Pushes for Social Media Regulation Following Meta's Policy Shift
In the wake of Meta's recent decision to discontinue its fact-checking program across its platforms, the Brazilian government is ramping up efforts to regulate social media usage. A dedicated working group is set to engage in discussions and negotiate with the newly elected leaders of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate starting in February.
The Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, emphasized the urgency of developing a cohesive government stance on this issue, indicating a focus on engaging with legislative leaders to explore the most effective means to advance the conversation on social media regulation.
Despite the government's intentions, significant opposition is anticipated within the National Congress. The regulation of social media has emerged as one of the most contentious issues during the tenure of Arthur Lira, the current Speaker of the Chamber, who struggled to secure consensus on the so-called 'Fake News Law.' Although this project has received approval from the Senate, it faces staunch resistance from opposition deputies.
Last year, Lira attempted multiple times to bring the proposed legislation to a vote, but it failed to gain sufficient support. Proponents of the bill within Lira's coalition suggest that there is a need for accountability among social media platforms and clearer user identification online.
In April of the previous year, Lira was on the verge of advancing the Fake News Law to the floor for a vote, having obtained urgency status for the proposal. However, substantial pressure from large technology companies and opposition from the bolsonarista faction in the Chamber led to a stalemate, preventing a vote from occurring. At that time, Lira remarked that the legislation was mired in "ideological political disputes" and was unlikely to progress.
A working group was subsequently established to formulate a new proposal, but it failed to convene any meetings before being disbanded.
According to Rui Costa, the government remains open to submitting a new proposal if the Congress indicates such a course of action. "Our goal is to address the substance of the issue. The format and specifics are up to the legislative body," he stated.
As the leader of the Republicanos party, Hugo Motta, prepares to assume the Speakership in February, he faces pressure from the opposition to refrain from prioritizing this issue. Meanwhile, members of the left are advocating for a discussion on the topic and are poised to push the incoming Speaker to take it up.
Bolsonarista lawmakers have noted that the Congress has effectively chosen not to act on this matter. "While this is indeed a congressional issue, it is also a congressional decision not to address or regulate it," stated Senator Ciro Nogueira.
Orlando Silva, the relator for the Fake News Law in the Chamber, believes that no significant movements regarding the legislation will occur until after the election of the new leadership in early February. When asked if the current bill remains a foundational reference, he responded that it depends on the perspective. "The nature of the debate is political. More than the starting point, what matters is the endpoint of the discussion," he added.
Meta, which operates platforms such as Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and WhatsApp, recently announced a series of changes aimed at enhancing "freedom of expression" within its networks. These changes include reduced filtering and moderation of content and the cessation of fact-checking measures for misinformation shared by users.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also expressed a commitment to collaborate with the Trump administration against foreign governments that impose censorship on U.S. companies.
Brazilian authorities have already raised concerns with Meta regarding these changes. The Federal Public Ministry of São Paulo formally requested that the company clarify whether the new moderation policies will apply in Brazil within a 30-day timeframe.
Following the announcement, Meta updated its social media policy in Portuguese, specifying its stance on what constitutes "hate conduct." The revised guidelines indicate that making allegations of mental illness or abnormalities based on gender or sexual orientation will no longer be prohibited, provided these discussions are framed as political or religious commentary on issues like transgenderism and homosexuality. However, the company assured that it will continue to remove content deemed "dehumanizing, immoral, or severely defamatory."
