The announcement this Tuesday by Mark ZuckerbergCEO of Meta, about changes to content moderation policies on the company’s platforms, generated diverse reactions in the Brazilian political scene.
The decision to end the fact-checking program and implement “community notes”, similar to the model adopted by X, was met with criticism from government representatives and left-wing parliamentarians, while right-wing politicians celebrated the measure.
Criticism of the Government and the left
João Brant, Secretary of Digital Policies at the Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, interpreted Zuckerberg’s statements as a direct attack on the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Brant stated that Meta’s CEO’s position anticipates the start of Donald Trump’s government and reveals the company’s alliance with the United States against countries that seek to regulate the digital environment to protect rights.
The announcement made today by Mark Zuckerberg anticipates the start of the Trump administration and explains Meta’s alliance with the US government to face the European Union, Brazil and other countries that seek to protect rights in the online environment (in his view, those that ‘promote censorship’ ). (1/8)
—John Brant (@joaobrant) January 7, 2025
Federal deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP) criticized the decision, accusing Zuckerberg of allying with the far right to increase his fortune. Boulos stated that, for big tech billionaires, democracy is just a nice word and nothing more
The changes announced today by Zuckerberg further deepen the advance of the far right and the attacks on democracy around the world. Understand what he is proposing:
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— Guilherme Boulos (@GuilhermeBoulos) January 7, 2025
In an interview with GloboNews, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, also expressed concern, stating that Meta’s new policy increases the risks of spreading misinformation. Haddad highlighted that freedom of expression should not include slander, lies and defamation
Right-wing support
On the other hand, right-wing parliamentarians celebrated the announcement. Federal deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ) interpreted the decision as an advance in the fight for freedom of expression, stating that Brazil isolates itself as the country of censorship.
Haddad ended his vacation early and went to Globo to comment on Meta’s changes. He wasn’t supposed to be trying to reverse the economic disaster that he and Lula caused in Brazil. Censorship is more important than the economy. pic.twitter.com/be5zoovpT0
— Carlos Jordy (@carlosjordy) January 7, 2025
Federal deputy Marcel Van Hattem (Novo-RS) praised the movement as a milestone against global authoritarianism, highlighting the connection with the rise of Donald Trump in the USA and the resistance to authoritarian policies in Latin America. Van Hattem criticized governments that, according to him, use censorship mechanisms to stay in power.
The joke is over: Mark Zuckerberg decides to turn against censorship and announces new times of freedom of expression on Instagram and Facebook! pic.twitter.com/V8ANkLH6Ts
— Marcel van Hattem (@marcelvanhattem) January 7, 2025
Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) also spoke, praising Zuckerberg’s stance and stating that the decision represents a victory against censorship and in favor of freedom of expression.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) January 7, 2025
Representative Nikolas Ferreira (PL-SP) reposted the video with Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement and wrote the following caption: “Brazilians want freedom of expression. Leftist tyranny will not prevail.”
Brazilians want free speech. The leftist tirany won’t prevail. pic.twitter.com/gq9adyccmT
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) January 7, 2025
Zuckerberg’s announcement featured forceful speeches. The executive even denounced what he calls “clandestine cuts in Latin America that promote censorship. Understand more here.
Source: https://www.hardware.com.br/noticias/politicos-brasileiros-reagiram-ao-fim-checagem-fatos-meta.html
