The Attorney General of the Union scheduled a public hearing on Wednesday at 2 p.m. to address the content moderation policies of digital platforms. 41 individuals, including platform representatives, experts, fact-checking agencies, academics, and civil society organizations, have been invited to participate in the discussion.
The event was triggered by the recent update in Meta’s policies, a company owned by Mark Zuckerberg that oversees Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. In reaction to a request from AGU, the company acknowledged modifications in its guidelines, permitting users to link mental health conditions with gender or sexual orientation during religious or political discussions.
AGU states that the debate’s purpose is to assess the effects of misinformation and safeguard constitutional rights. The event will be overseen by AGU and involve officials from various government departments.
Government worry
AGU is deeply worried about certain changes that could potentially lead to the violation of laws and constitutional rights protecting Brazilian citizens, as reported by O Globo.
The platforms that were invited to the event included Meta, Alphabet (owner of Google and Youtube), TikTok, Kwai, X and LinkedIn. Also invited were organizations operating in the digital field like the Institute of Technology and Society (ITS), InternetLab, and Netlab, as well as fact-checking agencies like the Facts and Lupa Agency, university professors, and human rights groups.
The individual who confirmed attendance was not revealed. Each participant will be given five minutes to present, and the debaters can engage in discussions and ask questions. The event, as stated by AGU, will focus on “strategies to guarantee adherence to national laws and safeguard rights.”
Citizens and institutions can participate as listeners either in person or online by registering in advance on the electronic form by January 21 at 23:59. Access the registration link at: https://form.agu.gov.br/s/62cmfu3du0003ph01giybqmj