In a significant move, Brazil has given social media giant Meta a 72-hour deadline to explain its new fact-checking policies and how they will affect the protection of fundamental rights within the country. This demand comes in the wake of Meta's decision to terminate its fact-checking program in the United States, a move that has sparked concerns globally about the spread of misinformation and the company's approach to content moderation.

Attorney General Jorge Messias emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that Brazil could take legal and judicial measures against Meta if it fails to respond adequately to the extrajudicial notice filed on Friday. The Brazilian government is particularly concerned about the lack of transparency from Meta and the potential implications of its policy changes on Brazilian society.

The changes announced by Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which include ending fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram in the U.S., have raised alarms in Brazil and other countries vulnerable to misinformation. The Brazilian presidency has highlighted the issue as a key topic of discussion, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva engaging in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about the importance of protecting freedom of expression without allowing the spread of lies and prejudices.

Further complicating the situation, Meta has introduced looser restrictions on speech concerning topics such as gender and sexual identity. These new guidelines have raised concerns about potential increases in harmful content, including associations of sexual identity with mental illness or abnormality, and the defense of professional limitations based on gender.

Brazil's government is seeking detailed information on how Meta's algorithms will be designed to promote and protect fundamental rights, as well as measures to prevent gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, suicide, and hate speech. The country also wants clarity on how complaints can be filed and how contradictions and disinformation in the new user-generated 'community notes' system will be managed.

The Brazilian Supreme Court has previously taken a strong stance on regulating social media platforms, with Judge Alexandre de Moraes blocking Elon Musk's X platform for 40 days last year for non-compliance with court orders against online disinformation. This precedent underscores Brazil's commitment to enforcing its laws and protecting its citizens from the negative impacts of social media.

As the deadline approaches, the Brazilian government remains firm in its stance that all companies operating within its borders must respect Brazilian legislation and jurisdiction. The outcome of Meta's response could have significant implications for how social media platforms are regulated and managed in Brazil and potentially set a precedent for other countries facing similar challenges.