11 entities linked to communication defend the approval of the bill of fake news

Entities representing communication companies and professional journalism signed this Tuesday (18) a manifesto for the approval of bill 2.630/2020, known as the fake news bill. In a note, the 11 organizations defend the appreciation of journalism as an antidote to misinformation and hate speech.

“Faced with the dramatic effects of misinformation and hate speech, the undersigned organizations reiterate their support for the approval of PL nº 2630/2020 (known as PL das Fake News), particularly regarding the appreciation of journalism as an antidote to this social epidemic”, says the manifesto.

The text was approved in 2020 by the Senate. Last week, the mayor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), stated that the proposal should be voted on in the plenary of the House from April 26th.

The associations also consider that “the remuneration of journalistic activity by technology platforms can be a decisive element for the formation of a journalistic ecosystem” that is “capable of opposing the spread of disinformation”. However, the entities emphasize their concern in trying to merge in the project “the issue of copyright of cultural producers who are not directly related to the fight against disinformation”.

The following signs the manifesto: Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert); National Association of Magazine Editors (Aner); National Association of Newspapers (ANJ); Digital Journalism Association (Ajor); Brazilian Association of Digital Media (ABMD); Pernambuco Press Association (Aip); Paulista Association of Newspapers (APJ); Riograndense Press Association (ARI); National Confederation of Social Communication (CNCOM); National Federation of Newspaper and Magazine Companies (Fenajore); and the National Federation of Radio and Television Companies (Fenaert).

Check out the associations’ manifesto in full:

“Faced with the dramatic effects of misinformation and hate speech, the undersigned organizations reiterate their support for the approval of PL nº 2630/2020 (known as PL das Fake News), particularly regarding the appreciation of journalism as an antidote to this social epidemic.

Public interest journalism is society’s main weapon to combat disinformation and an important instrument for exercising the right of access to information.

As already occurs in other countries, the remuneration of journalistic activity by technology platforms can be a decisive element for the formation of a broad, diverse and healthy journalistic ecosystem, capable of opposing the spread of disinformation and hate speech. Such an ecosystem is essential for the maintenance of democracy itself.

PL nº 2630/2020 is an opportunity to take this discussion further, establishing the principle that platforms must pay journalistic content producers.

However, the entities highlight their concern in trying to merge the issue of copyright of cultural producers that are not directly related to the fight against misinformation into the PL.

Due to its relevance, the payment of copyright by the so-called Big Techs to cultural producers demands a separate discussion, so that it can be duly debated and, in due course, accepted by the Brazilian Congress.

It’s time to value journalism as a protagonist in the fight against disinformation and approve PL nº 2630/2020″.