The Office of Institutional Security of the Presidency of the Republic (GSI) unveiled a proposal for a new fee to finance an internet regulatory agency.
This proposal forms part of what is called the National Cybersecurity Policy and suggests a fee, termed TCiber, that would be paid by internet users.
Some say, however, that this cybersecurity police is just a fancy name for good old-fashioned censorship, where the government’s truths are enforced as the only truths on the net.
That is why the TCiber agency is widely referred to as Truth Ministry.
The fee, representing 1.5% of the total internet bill payment, would be employed to fund the proposed cybersecurity agency.
The agency’s conception comes after the dismissal of PL 2630/20, or the “Censorship Bill”, which intended to establish a regulatory body for social networks.
Despite popular opposition leading to the removal of the bill from the National Congress agenda, the government plans to reintroduce it.
As per the GSI’s proposal, the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCiber) would cost approximately R$600 (US$120) million annually and would have 800 servers.
New expenses require compensatory revenues by law, thus the government suggests the internet fee as a solution.
This proposal has been presented to the ministries of Justice, Finance, Planning, Science and Technology, and Management, all of which have approved.
It now awaits the nod from the Civil House and the Presidency of the Republic.
If the government approves, the new internet fee will form part of a bill for Congress’s consideration.