The Brazilian Attorney General's Office (AGU) has convened a public hearing to discuss content moderation on social media platforms, following Meta's announcement of significant changes to its content policies. This event, scheduled for January 22, 2025, will include representatives from major platforms such as Google, Discord, TikTok, and Meta, as well as civil society organizations and academic experts.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, has raised concerns within the Brazilian government regarding potential infringements on established rights under Brazilian law. The hearing aims to assess the implications of these policy changes on combating misinformation and safeguarding fundamental rights enshrined in the Brazilian Constitution.
Participants will have five minutes for initial statements, followed by a Q&A session, with options for both in-person and online attendance. The AGU's response comes after CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the cessation of fact-checking on Meta's platforms and the rollback of protections for vulnerable communities, including LGBTQIA+ individuals.
As this dialogue unfolds, it highlights the global implications of platform policy changes and the ongoing challenge of balancing free speech with the need for responsible content moderation.