Meta’s decision to end the fact-checking program in the United States indicates that it is supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda, according to the Secretary of Digital Policies of the Presidency of the Republic.
João Brant suggested on the X social network that Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement today foreshadows the start of the Trump administration.
The decision clarifies Meta’s partnership with the U.S. government in response to efforts by the European Union, Brazil, and other nations to safeguard online rights.
The company does not acknowledge the authority of countries in regulating the digital space.
The battle against false information is a highly delicate issue in Brazil, where platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, was temporarily shut down for 40 days last year by the Supreme Court (STF) for not following court orders.
Zuckerberg mentioned “hidden directives in Latin America that may quietly compel companies” to remove content from online platforms in a video shared on social media on Tuesday.
Brant described it as a powerful statement, referring to the Supreme Court as a “secret court.”
The Secretary of Digital Policies of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government also condemned Zuckerberg’s choice to prioritize ‘civic content’ on the platforms, suggesting it is meant to support the Trump administration’s agenda.
Brant believes Meta’s decision is an encouragement for extreme right activism.
Zuckerberg’s statement highlights the importance of international initiatives aimed at enhancing the promotion of information integrity within organizations like the UN, UNESCO, G20, and the OECD.
The political group of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was disqualified for eight years by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in 2023 for spreading false information about the country’s electronic machines, positively welcomed the announcement.
The son of former president Eduardo Bolsonaro stated that more information will be examined as the impact of Trump continues to unfold, with the left facing defeat.