Brazil social media legal vacuum poses controversies

Significance

Lira’s announcement came as parliamentarians and government members insisted on rekindling efforts to pass legislation -- known as the “Fake News bill” -- following a clash between Supreme Federal Court (STF) justice Alexandre de Moraes and X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk.

Impacts

• In the absence of up-to-date legislation, the STF will continue to make crucial policy decisions affecting social media.
• Musk may be using Brazil to test the limits of X’s actions ahead of the US elections.
• Former President Jair Bolsonaro is unlikely to obtain substantial political benefits from Musk’s intervention in Brazilian politics.