Brazilian President Bans Social Media Companies From Removing Disinformation & Abuse

Brazilian President Bans Social Media Companies From Removing Disinformation & Abuse

3 years ago
Anonymous $WHrWmjSJBZ

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210909/12053947533/brazilian-president-bans-social-media-companies-removing-disinformation-abuse.shtml

Ah, great. Just after Australia made it clear that media organizations are liable for comments on social media (demonstrating one aspect of a world without intermediary liability protections), Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has announced new social media rules that effectively force social media sites to keep all content online (demonstrating the flipside to a world without intermediary liability protections). The two most important things that Section 230 does -- limiting liability for 3rd party intermediaries and freeing websites of liability for moderation choices -- each going away completely in two separate countries in the same week.

To be clear, the rule in Brazil can only stay on the books for 120 days -- since it's a "provisional measure" from the President -- and if they're not enacted into law by the Brazilian Congress by then, they'll expire (and there's at least some suggestion that the Brazilian Congress has no interest). But, still, these rules are dangerous.