Brazil Demands Meta Explanation on Fact-Checking Policies

The Brazilian government gave Meta 72 hours to explain changes to new fact-checking policies after Meta cancelled its U.S. fact-checking program and loosened restrictions on conversations about issues like immigration and gender identity, according to Solicitor General Jorge Messaias on Friday.

It is unclear exactly what will happen after the deadline passes.

“I’d like to express the Brazilian government’s enormous concern about the policy adopted by the Meta company, which is like an airport windsock, changing its position all the time according to the winds,” Messias, the government’s top lawyer, told reporters in Brasilia.

“Brazilian society will not be at the mercy of this kind of policy,” Messias added.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, declared that he had to talk about the changes, calling them “extremely serious” on Thursday.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave the excuse of “too many mistakes and too much censorship” when he announced the decision on Tuesday.

According to a spokeswoman on Tuesday, Meta was solely preparing the adjustments for the U.S. market at this time.

Reuters/Chidimma Gold