President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed two [1] decrees on Wednesday establishing new rules for the operation of digital platforms in Brazil.
These regulations shift the responsibility of systemic monitoring to the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD). By implementing these rules, the Brazilian government aims to force big tech companies to adhere to stricter safety standards, mirroring regulatory models already adopted in other nations.
João Brant, the Secretary of Digital Policies, said the measures are designed to ensure platforms fulfill obligations to protect users. A primary focus of the new framework is the protection of women, and the active combat of fraudulent activities and illegal content online.
Under the new decrees, the ANPD will be the body responsible for monitoring whether platforms are meeting these systemic obligations. This oversight is intended to move beyond reactive moderation and toward a preventative system of risk management for digital services.
While some reports indicate the administration may also send a separate bill to Congress to further regulate big tech, the current decrees provide an immediate executive framework for enforcement. The government seeks to create a digital environment where platforms are held accountable for the harms facilitated by their algorithms and business models.
The implementation of these rules marks a significant step in Brazil's effort to curb the spread of disinformation and digital violence. By empowering the ANPD, the state intends to create a standardized mechanism for reporting and removing illegal content, while ensuring the safety of vulnerable populations.
“President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed two decrees establishing new rules for the operation of digital platforms in Brazil.”
The shift toward executive decrees allows the Brazilian government to implement oversight more rapidly than through the legislative process. By centering the ANPD as the monitor, Brazil is treating digital platform safety as a data protection and systemic risk issue, aligning its strategy with the European Union's Digital Services Act approach to platform accountability.
