The Meta announcement, held this Tuesday (7) by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has left users, experts, and even governments on high alert. This issue is so urgent that, this morning, the President of the Republic Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with government ministers to discuss the new guidelines of the company. Now, the fact-checking system of the social media platforms Instagram, Facebook, and Threads will officially be discontinued in the United States; and in the long term, the measure is also projected to be applied in other countries.
According to the Meta CEO, the goal is to reduce errors made by the system, which accidentally removed some profiles and posts, and to prioritize the users’ freedom of expression. In practice, fact-checking will not be completely eliminated, but the “community notes” model will be adopted, similar to the one used by X, where users themselves make comments on posts. For the federal government, this new policy is concerning as it goes against countries’ sovereignty; Lula even stated that digital communication should have the same responsibility as other means, such as the press.
One of the biggest legal and ethical challenges related to changes in Meta’s policy is the potential freedom to discuss discriminatory topics, such as gender and race, which are punishable by law in the country. In addition to today’s meeting, the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has also demanded explanations from the company, which also owns Whatsapp, to assess the impact of these changes in Brazil. According to Layon Lopes, CEO of Silva Lopes Advogados and a specialist in business law, the issue is complex and could have legal and economic consequences not only for Brazil but globally.
– When a major tech company changes its policies, the effects often extend beyond national borders. In Brazil, the challenge lies in reconciling freedom of expression with respect for local laws, which seek to protect fundamental rights, such as dignity and nondiscrimination. This situation requires careful attention and collaboration between governments, companies, and society, commented Lopes.
Furthermore, the Minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, also commented on the changes, stating that social networks can continue to operate if they respect the laws in force in Brazilian territory. It is worth noting that the beginning of the second semester of 2024 was marked by a clash between the STF and platform X, which led to the social network being blocked after the non-compliance with Brazilian legislation.
