Brazil’s government has expressed “serious concern” over Meta Platforms’ (Meta) recent changes to its hate speech policy, which it believes do not comply with the country’s legislation. The move comes amid a top market for Meta in Brazil, where Facebook alone has about 100 million active users.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had previously labeled the changes as “extremely serious.” The government is ordering Meta to explain its plans and has scheduled a public hearing later this week to discuss the issue with experts.
The Brazilian solicitor general’s office criticized Meta, stating that some aspects of the policy changes have caused “serious concern” due to their incompatibility with local law. The office emphasized that the current terms of use and the changes informed by Meta do not fit with Brazil’s legislation and are insufficient to protect fundamental rights.
Meta has defended its actions, claiming they aim to secure greater freedom of expression. However, the company’s policy changes have sparked controversy, particularly in a country where hate speech laws are in place to prohibit racial slurs and remarks that attack people for their religion.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-seriously-concerned-about-meta-changes-hate-speech-policy-2025-01-14