Brazil X controversy highlights regulatory challenges

Significance

The suspension, ordered by Supreme Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes, outraged those who see the measure as an assault on free speech, but was applauded by those who decry the social network’s role in proliferating anti-democratic messages and hate speech in Brazil.

Impacts

• Demands to impeach Moraes will be unsuccessful.
• Calls to update the 2014 Internet Civil Framework will increase.
• Despite the suspension, Brazil will remain a key market for social media companies.
• Other democracies will face the challenge of combating political interference from social media platforms without infringing free speech.