Brazil Looks To Regulate Monetized Content On Internet (reuters.com) 9
The Brazilian government is studying whether to regulate Internet platforms with content that earns revenue such as advertising, its secretary for digital policies, Joao Brant, said on Friday. Reuters reports: The idea would be for a regulator to hold such platforms, not consumers, accountable for monetized content, Brant told Reuters. Another goal is "to prevent the networks from being used for the dissemination and promotion of crimes and illegal content" especially after the riots by supporters of former far-right President JairBolsonaro in Brasilia in January, fueled by misinformation about the election he lost in October.
Brant said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government also intends to make companies responsible for stopping misinformation, hate speech and other crimes on their social media platforms. Platforms would not be held responsible for content individually, but for how diligent they are in protecting the "digital environment," he said in an interview. Brant did not detail what the regulatory body would look like, but said the government wants to regulate monetized content and prevent the platforms from spreading misinformation.
Brant said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government also intends to make companies responsible for stopping misinformation, hate speech and other crimes on their social media platforms. Platforms would not be held responsible for content individually, but for how diligent they are in protecting the "digital environment," he said in an interview. Brant did not detail what the regulatory body would look like, but said the government wants to regulate monetized content and prevent the platforms from spreading misinformation.
Re: (Score:3)
Bolsonaro is a populist Brazilian Trump clone and a danger to democracy.
Nonetheless, once this censorship mechanism is in place, it is certain to be abused.
It is better to rebut Bolsonaro's lies with the truth rather than trying to silence him.
Brazil will regret going down this path.
Re: (Score:2)
... this censorship mechanism ...
You're deluded if you think the US government doesn't demand "crimes and illegal content" be censored. The USA sets a very low-bar for "crimes", making it easy to pretend that Facebook deletes no videos but the ranting meglomaniacs on Facebook are the result of rules the government doesn't enforce.
US media is full of gutless 'somebody else should do something to fix my feelings' ranting. No amount of truth is going to undo the hate caused by this.
Second-place only matters in sport: In public opinion, it
NOOOooo!!! (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Given the person in power at the moment is pretty thirsty for revenge, and is doing a lot of bad decisions on purpose, yes.
But he's probably getting impeached and replaced by his vice, as it's pretty much tradition in Brazil at this point.
The Apple-ization of government (Score:2)
Run for your life.
Or at least, tell your wallet to run.
Good. (Score:3)
Disinformation for profit has been what is tearing the US apart, so anything that can slow this down elsewhere is a step in the right direction.
Cool (Score:1)