59 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
59 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
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Source URL: https://apublica.org/2025/09/how-big-tech-killed-brazils-fake-news-bill/
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Access date: 2026-03-24
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Document evidences: Agencia Publica investigation into how Meta and Google orchestrated coordinated
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lobbying to kill Brazil's Bill 2630 (fake news bill). Documents Meta's "Bible document" arguing
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the bill would censor biblical content to mobilize Evangelical Caucus. Details revolving door
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(Meta employed 19 govt relations staff, 73.7% ex-government), Google's $350K+ ad campaign,
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search manipulation, astroturfing, and lobbyist Rebeca Mota's 255 Congressional visits.
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<title>How Big Tech Killed Brazil's Fake News Bill - Agência Pública</title>
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<h1>Big Tech's Campaign Against Brazil's Fake News Bill</h1>
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<h2>Overview</h2>
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<p>An investigation by Agência Pública reveals how major technology companies—particularly Meta and Google—orchestrated a coordinated lobbying effort to prevent Brazil's Bill 2630 from passing. The legislation proposed accountability measures for social media platforms, including liability for third-party content, transparency requirements, and compensation for journalistic content.</p>
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<h2>Key Lobbying Tactics</h2>
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<h3>Direct Political Engagement</h3>
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<p>Meta's senior public policy director met with former President Jair Bolsonaro in April 2025 to discuss bills threatening tech interests. The meeting exemplified how companies shifted strategy: "every time a there is bill that will hurt their interests, they come to us here," according to Representative Sóstenes Cavalcante.</p>
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<h3>Revolving Door Strategy</h3>
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<p>Meta employed 19 government relations professionals, with 73.7% having prior government experience. This reflected industry-wide practice of hiring former officials to navigate Congress.</p>
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<h3>The Digital Citizenship Institute</h3>
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<p>An intermediary organization funded by tech associations employed lobbyist Rebeca Mota, who logged 255 visits to Congress between September 2021 and May 2025. She drafted amendment suggestions designed to weaken bill provisions.</p>
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<h2>The Biblical Passages Document</h2>
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<p>Meta prepared a paper arguing that Bill 2630 would result in censoring biblical content. The document cited specific verses, including Leviticus 20:13 and 1 Timothy 2:12, claiming platform moderation requirements would "compromise the Bible's exposure." This argument mobilized Brazil's influential Evangelical Caucus against the legislation.</p>
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<h2>Massive Ad Campaign</h2>
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<h3>Google's Investment</h3>
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<p>Google spent over $350,000 on advertisements between April 27-May 2, 2023. The company paid approximately $111,000 to Folha de S. Paulo and $72,000 to Correio Braziliense for full-page ads claiming the bill "could increase confusion about what is true or false."</p>
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<h3>Search Manipulation</h3>
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<p>Google placed messages on its search homepage stating the bill "could worsen your internet experience," visible to millions given the company's 85% market dominance in Brazil. Research group Netlab concluded this constituted search result manipulation.</p>
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<h2>Astroturfing and Grassroots Campaigns</h2>
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<p>A protest at Brasília airport included individuals appearing unaffiliated with the Youth and Liberty Union (UJL) student group ostensibly organizing it. The "Censorship Scoreboard" website, created by Boletim da Liberdade, ranked legislators based on their bill position, intensifying public pressure through what researchers characterized as artificial grassroots mobilization.</p>
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<h2>Political Realignment</h2>
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<p>The campaign fundamentally altered relationships between far-right politicians and tech companies. Representative Cavalcante noted the shift: "Before that, we saw them as our enemies. We always had issues with Big Tech because we always thought Big Tech benefited the left."</p>
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<p>This alignment proved significant—by 2025, the same political forces would support tech interests in opposing other regulations, including measures protecting children online.</p>
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<h2>Outcome</h2>
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<p>On May 2, 2023, the bill was removed from the voting agenda despite initial majority support. Though discussions continued, the legislation effectively died. Former House Speaker Arthur Lira filed a criminal complaint against Google and Telegram for their "abusive campaign," but investigations stalled.</p>
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<p>The episode demonstrated sophisticated lobbying coordination across multiple channels: direct political meetings, funded intermediary organizations, massive advertising, influencer mobilization, and alliance-building with influential political blocs—ultimately preventing a major regulatory initiative.</p>
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