A survey conducted by Google showed that Brazil occupies the 5th place in the world ranking of government requests for content removal on the internet.
In the 2nd semester of 2022, 1,591 requests received by the company were accounted for.
Brazil is only behind Russia (36,137), South Korea (5,639), Turkey (1,538), and India (2,799).
Since 2011, there have been more than 345,000 content removal requests in the country.
“To evaluate a request, it needs to be in writing, as specific as possible regarding the content, and clearly explain how it is illegal.”
“We do not accept requests not made through the proper channels. If we receive a verbal request, we will ask that it be in writing,” the company says on its website.
The data does not consider removals made by “self-regulation” without the request of a third party.
FAKE NEWS BILL
Bill 2.630/2020 determines the liability of big techs for damages caused by improper publications posted by users.
The text also says that when there is sponsorship of misinformation, i.e., when a user pays the platform for the content to be delivered to more people, the company will be co-responsible and should be held liable.
Previously, platforms were exempted from being liable for third-party content.
Big techs will also have to systematically identify and assess the risks of their services and related systems, such as algorithms, and install a “safety protocol” if an imminent risk of harm is identified for up to 30 days, with a 30-day extension.
As for content boosting, the platforms must “mitigate” illicit and criminal content such as terrorism, violation of the democratic rule of law, violence against women, children, teenagers, and the elderly, as well as incitement to hatred, racism, or any other type of violence.
GOOGLE REMOVES TEXT FROM SEARCH ENGINE
On Tuesday, Google removed the fake news PL text display on the search engine’s main page.
The measure occurred after politicians disagreed on the company’s actions in disseminating texts critical of the proposal.
The Federal Public Ministry of São Paulo also notified the big tech company, setting ten days to explain alleged changes in search results and ads without identification against the project.
On Monday (May 1), Google included the text “The PL of fake news can increase confusion about what is true or false in Brazil” and “The Fake News PL can worsen your internet” on the search engine’s main page.
The article is signed by the director of Government Relations and Public Policy of the company in Brazil, Marcelo Lacerda, and argues that the PL 2.630 of 2020 “ends up protecting those who produce disinformation, resulting in the creation of more disinformation.”
With information from Poder360