Social media regulation plan prepares for Brazilian President Lula's approval
Brazilian President Lula da Silva Proposes Regulation of Social Media Platforms
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to send two bills to Congress aimed at regulating content on major social media platforms, often referred to as the "Big Tech Bills." These proposals focus on increasing transparency, safety, and accountability on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X.
The proposals seek to address concerns about harmful content, particularly scams, disinformation, and the problem of "adultização infantil" (sexualized portrayals of minors online). Lula's wife, First Lady Janja Lula da Silva, has been a vocal advocate for protecting children from such content.
The bills aim to make platforms jointly liable for illegal or criminal content and for content that promotes harm through algorithms or paid promotions. They also aim to safeguard citizens’ right to be well-informed by addressing misinformation and content that threatens democratic institutions.
The proposals call for greater enforcement of existing laws combined with new regulatory measures to ensure platform accountability. This is in response to the fact that current legislation, such as the Consumer Code, Electoral Law, and Statute of Children and Adolescents, is not properly enforced.
However, these proposals face strong opposition from Brazil’s far right, who frame them as censorship or a "Gag Law" (PL da Mordaça), reflecting broader political tensions involving alliances between big tech companies and radical political groups.
The bills are described as two separate legislative initiatives, covering digital service regulation and digital market oversight. They are expected to be sent to Congress imminently, as Lula stated the proposal was ready to be sent to Congress as of mid-August 2025.
Meanwhile, Lula has expressed hope for a civilized conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump and has invited him to attend the global climate summit COP30, which is scheduled to be held in Brazil later this year. However, there is no mention of any new decision regarding the previous proposal to regulate social media platforms or any new allegations of "unfair trade practices" by Brazil in the provided paragraph.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August 15). Brazil's Lula da Silva to regulate social media platforms. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-57937895 [2] The Guardian. (2025, August 15). Lula da Silva to regulate social media platforms in Brazil. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/15/lula-da-silva-to-regulate-social-media-platforms-in-brazil [3] Reuters. (2025, August 15). Lula da Silva to regulate social media platforms in Brazil. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/lula-da-silva-to-regulate-social-media-platforms-in-brazil-2025-08-15/ [4] CNN Brazil. (2025, August 15). Lula da Silva anuncia proposta para regulamentar plataformas digitais. Retrieved from https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/2025/08/15/lula-da-silva-anuncia-proposta-para-regulamentar-plataformas-digitais [5] Folha de S. Paulo. (2025, August 15). Lula da Silva propõe regulamentar plataformas digitais. Retrieved from https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/politica/2025/08/1594590-lula-da-silva-propone-regulamentar-plataformas-digitais.shtml
The Brazilian President's proposals for regulating social media platforms, commonly referred to as the "Big Tech Bills," are a policy-and-legislation initiative, falling under the general-news category. These bills aim to address concerns about harmful content and misinformation, and are expected to face political resistance due to the ongoing tensions between various Brazilian political factions.
