Lula says Brazil ready to regulate social media now

Post by : Monika

Photo: Reuters

Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—called Lula—has announced that his government has finished a plan to regulate social media platforms. This plan will soon be sent to Brazil’s lawmakers in Congress for discussion.

What Did Lula Say?
In a TV interview, Lula said the draft of the social media rules would be on his desk the next day. After he signs it, the plan will be sent to Congress. There, lawmakers will talk about it, suggest changes, and vote on whether it should become law.

Only after this process will the plan officially become a law that social media companies must follow.

Why Is This Important?
Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) are very powerful. They help people share news and connect with each other, but sometimes they also spread harmful messages like lies, hate, or violence.

Lula’s government wants to make sure these platforms take responsibility and stop harmful content from spreading. This comes after Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that social media companies must quickly remove harmful content, or they could face legal trouble.

What Else Did Lula Talk About?
During the interview, Lula mentioned other important topics:

U.S. Trade and Tariffs
The U.S. recently put a 50% tax on Brazilian goods, claiming Brazil was unfair in digital trade. Lula called this a “witch-hunt” against Brazil’s previous leaders and hopes to meet the U.S. President soon to solve these issues peacefully.

Climate Summit Invitation
Lula invited the U.S. President to attend COP30, a big climate meeting taking place in Brazil later this year.

Talks with Europe
He also plans to talk with leaders from France, Germany, and the European Union about a trade deal with Mercosur, a South American trade group.

Why Regulate Social Media?
Brazil has faced problems with social media in the past. Misinformation and harmful posts sometimes caused real-life problems, making officials worried.

In June 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Court said social media companies like Google, Meta (Facebook’s parent company), and TikTok must act fast to remove harmful content. If they don’t, they could be sued. This is a big step toward making tech companies more responsible.

What Might the New Rules Say?

• Though the full plan isn’t public yet, it might include rules like:
• Platforms must remove unfair or dangerous content quickly.
• Reduce hate speech, fake news, and false information.
• Let users know how posts are chosen and shown.
• Make sure laws are followed during elections and public discussions.
• Set up a watchdog group to check if companies follow the rules.

This plan is similar to other ideas already being discussed in Brazil. One proposal says social media must take care to manage harmful content without waiting for a court order, and the government would check on their work.

Why Are Looser Rules a Problem?
Brazil’s communication groups have criticized tech companies when they loosen rules about misinformation or hate speech. For example, they worried when Meta said it would stop fact-checking posts in the U.S. Without strong rules, this could let harmful content spread more easily.

What Happens Next?
Congress Receives the Proposal
Soon, lawmakers will start talking about the plan and may hold votes to decide if it should move forward.

Public Discussion
People will be able to read the plan, suggest changes, and express opinions.

Possible Changes
Congress can change or remove parts before approving it.

Becomes Law
If approved, social media companies must follow the rules or face penalties.

Why This Matters to You
Social media affects many parts of daily life—especially for young people. Posts about school, news, politics, and friendships are shared online.

• Having rules could mean:
• Less harmful or false information.
• More fairness in what people see.
• More trust in the social media apps you use.

But some worry about free speech. If companies remove content too quickly to avoid problems, important ideas might be silenced. Lawmakers will need to find the right balance.

• Lula says Brazil’s social media law is ready for Congress.
• The goal is to make social media platforms responsible for harmful content.
• Brazil’s Supreme Court already set rules holding platforms accountable.
• Lula also talked about U.S. trade problems and invited leaders to climate talks.
• The new law aims to bring safety and fairness while protecting freedom.

Brazil social media law