The AGU has set a deadline for Meta to confirm its commitment to following Brazilian laws on racism and homophobia after making changes to its guidelines. Meta has assured that they will respond by the end of the day.
The extrajudicial notification followed Meta’s official announcement that it will stop fact-checking news on its platform and loosen restrictions on hate speech.
AGU Notification – Notification from AGU
AGU is seeking information on Meta’s plans to adhere to Brazilian laws and respect the country’s autonomy.
Manifestations on digital platforms should not be used to spread misinformation about public policies, undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions, or create panic among the population, as these actions harm the proper functioning of the democratic state.
In a home setting, worries about freedom of speech and other basic rights rely on a digital space that is devoid of misinformation and hate speech, as outlined in the Federal Constitution.
In light of the alterations specified in the META policy, it is crucial to emphasize the company’s responsibility to uphold and safeguard basic rights within the scope of sub-constitutional laws and the 1988 Constitution. It is particularly important to underline the actions taken and those to be implemented concerning the obligation to prevent gender violence, safeguard children and adolescents, combat racism, homophobia, and transphobia, prevent suicide, address hate speech, and other fundamental rights matters.
Lula and ministers are in talks about a goal.
President Lula (PT) convened a meeting with his ministers on Friday to address Meta’s changes and express concerns about combating fake news and loosening rules on hate speech.
In 2025, the government is expected to initiate a plan aimed at controlling the usage of social media platforms in Brazil. An existing proposal is under review by lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies, and ministries should facilitate discussions through a collaborative effort to establish a beneficial agreement within Brazilian legislation.
Reunião com os representantes do governo para tratar sobre os recentes anúncios da Meta e as implicações no Brasil. Duas decisões foram tomadas neste encontro.
A primeira é uma notificação enviada pela AGU para que a Meta explique, em até 72 horas, as mudanças na política de… pic.twitter.com/E5VrXmVrWh
— Lula (@LulaOficial) January 10, 2025
Government officials met to talk about recent Meta statements and their impact in Brazil. Two resolutions were made during the meeting. The first involves a notice from AGU to Meta, requesting clarification on changes to their policy within 72 hours.