Flávio Dino reaffirms that the government wants to regulate social networks: “right-wing ideas”

Minister Flávio Dino, of Justice, reaffirmed that the government wants to regulate social networks and that the platforms are used to disseminate “right-wing ideas and economic power”. The speeches were given during the opening of the 59th Congress of the National Union of Students (UNE), which also had a protest with boos to Minister Luis Roberto Barroso, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Dino defended the regulation of social networks because they function as “platforms of right-wing ideas and economic power”. “The second fundamental democratic task is to face the power of four, five companies that rule the internet and convey extremism”, he added.

The regulation of social networks has been defended by the government since the beginning of the year, but it gained a greater proportion mainly after the acts of January 8th. Experts point out that the ongoing proposals, if implemented, could be used politically to silence voices contrary to the government and its ideological guidelines, causing various damages to freedom of expression.

The so-called PL das Fake News or PL da Censura was discussed in May in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies, but had the vote postponed at the request of the rapporteur, Orlando Silva (PCdoB-SP), after meeting with party leaders. One of the opposition’s main criticisms was that the project had not been discussed with society.

Still during the speech at the UNE congress, Dino said that the first democratic task would be related to the fight against social inequality and the “construction of a fairer country for the population”.

“Everyone here is against fascism, against the coup and against the extreme right. Everyone defends free quality public education for everyone in Brazil. Everyone is against discrimination against black people, women and the LGBT community,” he said.

The UNE event runs until the 15th of July.