Debates over social media regulation continue to dominate Brazil’s legislative agenda. In the coming days, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration is expected to send two bills to Congress aimed at regulating content on major platforms, popularly referred to as the “Big Tech Bills”. The initiatives seek greater transparency and safety in the face of scams and the spread of disinformation.
In an interview with Radio BdF, Bia Barbosa, advocacy coordinator at Reporters Without Borders in Latin America, argued that regulation is the guarantee Brazilians have of “being well informed”, rejecting the narrative promoted by critics who have labeled the proposals as a “Gag Law”.
Barbosa emphasized that the issue gained visibility after a viral video by influencer Felca denouncing the “adultization” of children on social media, which fueled calls for stronger regulation. The proposals have drawn sharp resistance from Brazil’s far right. “We will need to mobilize and confront this reaction in a very organized way, because these companies are the most powerful economic actors in the world, allied with significant political forces. We saw their alliance with Donald Trump in this new U.S. administration and, here in Brazil, with the far right,” she said.
According to Barbosa, the alliance between big tech corporations – which control platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X – and political radicalism undermines an honest debate on the subject. “The strong relationship between big techs and far-right sectors in Brazil has intensified since 2023. Today, when you log on, you see hashtags such as #PLdaMordaçaNao [loosely translated as ‘No to the Gag Law’], used by far-right supporters who oppose any democratic norms for social media, claiming the bills amount to censorship,” she noted.
The government’s proposals are expected to address not only harmful content such as racism and misogyny, but also disinformation. “Regulating does not mean preventing innovation – as in the case of artificial intelligence – but it does mean ensuring, particularly for journalism, the citizen’s right to be well informed. To avoid being deceived by AI, we need operating rules not only for digital platforms but for any new technology,” Barbosa explained.
On Monday (18), Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office (AGU) notified Meta, which controls Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, demanding the removal of AI-generated content simulating childlike profiles that allow sexualized conversations with users. Barbosa described the move as “a relevant and positive step”.
“It is alarming to see a company like Meta, which once presented itself as a defender of children’s rights, enabling its most advanced AI to simulate such conversations and allow minors to engage in sexual dialogue. There is no doubt that sexual predators could exploit these tools to expand their actions in the digital environment,” she warned.
