Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued a stern warning to technology companies on Wednesday, emphasizing that they must comply with Brazilian laws to continue operating in the country.
Speaking at an event commemorating two years since riots targeting national institutions, Moraes underlined that Brazil will not tolerate the exploitation of hate speech for profit. “In Brazil, (the companies) will only continue to operate if they respect Brazilian legislation, regardless of the rant of Big Tech managers,” he stated.
Context of Moraes’ Remarks
Moraes’ comments follow Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of changes to the company’s U.S. fact-checking program, raising concerns about the implications for similar policies in Brazil. Prosecutors have ordered Meta to clarify whether these adjustments will extend to Brazil, granting the company 30 days to respond.
This development comes amidst an ongoing investigation into the role of social media platforms in combating misinformation and violence in Brazil.
Tech Companies Under Scrutiny
Last year, Moraes led the Supreme Court decision to temporarily suspend social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for failing to comply with court orders related to hate speech moderation. Although X owner Elon Musk denounced the move as censorship and referred to Moraes as a “dictator,” the platform later complied with court demands to restore its operations in Brazil.
Moraes’ statements reaffirm the court’s commitment to holding Big Tech accountable for content moderation and adherence to Brazilian laws.
Challenges Ahead
The focus on Meta and other tech firms comes amid broader concerns about the impact of misinformation and hate speech on democratic processes in Brazil. As social media platforms face increasing scrutiny, their policies and practices will remain pivotal in shaping their ability to operate in the country.
