Brazil challenges Meta’s hate speech policy changes

Brazil has demanded answers from Meta over policy changes that could weaken protections against hate speech.

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Brazil’s government has expressed serious concerns over Meta’s recent changes to its hate speech policy, warning that the adjustments may not comply with national legislation. The social media giant, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has eased restrictions on discussions around sensitive topics such as immigration and gender identity while also ending its fact-checking programme in the United States. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva previously called the policy shift “extremely serious,” prompting officials to demand clarification from Meta.

Meta has responded by stating that fact-checking changes currently apply only in the United States and that adjustments to its community standards remain limited to hate speech policy. The company argues that the revisions aim to promote greater freedom of expression, but Brazil’s solicitor general’s office believes the changes are insufficient to protect fundamental rights. Government ministries have raised concerns that Meta’s updated terms of use may violate Brazilian law, particularly in relation to online discourse and misinformation.

A public hearing will be held later this week to discuss the potential impact of Meta’s policy changes. The government is engaging experts to assess whether the new rules align with Brazil’s legal framework and ensure that social media platforms uphold protections against hate speech. Authorities are monitoring how the changes affect digital content regulation as they consider further action to address concerns over online safety and misinformation.