Following the recent mass uprising in Brazil over the nation’s controversial presidential election last year, the newly installed far-left government is pushing new laws to make “anti-democratic” online speech illegal.
Brazilian Minister for Justice and Public Security Flavio Dino proposed a new bill that would regulate social media and Big Tech companies.
The legislation contains penalties for anyone caught posting content deemed “anti-democratic” or “terrorist” by the socialist regime.
The legislation is part of four proposed bills in the “Democracy Package.”
The measures have been drafted in response to the widespread backlash from the people of Brazil after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president on January 1.
The situation came to a head when President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed the capital Brasilia on January 8.
According to the news outlet UOL, the proposed legislation would regulate “content considered terrorist and that violates the democratic state of law.”
It requires social media platforms to remove “anti-democratic” content without a court order.
The law also requires Big Tech to create channels through which government officials can flag “offensive” content for removal.
Dino claims that social media had a role in the events of January 8.
Speaking at a meeting between the state secretariats and members of the Justice Ministry, Dino argued for the regulation of social media because the internet should not be an “anything goes” kind of territory.
“There is no freedom of expression for those who commit crimes,” Dino said.
“There is no freedom of expression for those who want it destroyed.
“The Internet cannot be a territory for the free birth of criminals.”
As reported by Jovem Pan, the “Democracy Package” contains other bills related to “the loss of assets for those who commit crimes against the democratic rule of law” and “crimes against the democratic rule of law.”
Joven Pan’s reporters are now facing investigations after being targeted by the state for spreading so-called “misinformation.”
The final bill would see the creation of a new guard in the Brazilian National Guard.
The new guard’s work would involve shutting down protests and containing “invasions” like those that happened on January 8.
READ MORE: Facebook Bans All Content Supportive of Pro-Bolsonaro Protests in Brazil
