In a message to users, the platform also said that, if approved, the PL will grant ‘censorship powers to the government’
Telegram was questioned by the Federal Public Ministry, in So Paulo, after sending messages to app users with text contrary to the Fake News PL. The platform said that “democracy is under attack in Brazil” and that, if approved, it will grant “censorship powers to the government”, which is not true.
The MPF, by letter, issued an order for the platform to say who made the decision to send said message. In addition, Telegram will need to inform the reasons why the text was forwarded to all users, not just those subscribed to the ‘Notifications’ channel.
Last week, on the eve of the vote in the Chamber, Google included on its homepage a link in which it directed users to an article signed by Marcelo Lareda, director of government relations and public policies at Google Brazil, which repudiated the PL of Fake News.
At the time, the National Consumer Secretariat (linked to the Ministry of Justice) informed that the company should signal the phrase in question as an advertisement.
The PL vote is, so far, suspended by the mayor, Arthur Lira.
Read the full text of Telegram below
Democracy is under attack in Brazil. The Chamber of Deputies is due to vote soon on PL 2630/2020, which was recently amended to include more than 20 completely new articles that have never been widely debated. See how this bill will kill the modern internet if passed with its current wording. If approved, companies like Telegram may have to stop providing services in Brazil.
Grants Censorship Powers to the Government
This bill allows the government to limit what can be said online by forcing apps to proactively remove facts or opinions that it deems “unacceptable” [1] and suspend any internet service without a court order. [2]
For example, the Ministry of Justice recently requested certification against Telegram, claiming that the application did not respond to a request even before the request was made . If PL 2630/2020 had been in force, the government could have immediately blocked the application as a preventive measure until Telegram proved that it did not violate any law.
Transfers Judicial Powers to Applications
This bill makes digital platforms responsible for deciding what is illegal content instead of the courts and provides broad settings for illegal content. [3]
To avoid fines, platforms will choose to remove any opinions related to held controversies, especially since they are not in the view of any government currently in power, which directly puts democracy at risk.
Create a Permanent Surveillance System
The bill requires platforms to monitor communications and inform law enforcement authorities if a crime is suspected to have taken place or may take place in the future. [4]
This creates a permanent surveillance system, similar to that of countries with anti-democratic regimes.
unnecessary
Brazil already has laws to deal with the criminal activities that this bill is intended to cover (including attacks on democracy).
The new bill seeks to circumvent this legal framework, allowing a single administrative entity to regulate speech without prior independent judicial oversight. [5]
And more!
This just scratches the surface of why this new bill is dangerous. That’s why Google, Meta and others have teamed up to show Brazil’s National Congress why the bill needs to be rewritten, but that won’t be possible without your help.
What Can You Do to Change That?
You can talk to your congressman here or on social media today. Brazilians deserve a free internet and a free future.
(Credit: Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash)
