Moraes sees “ill will” of big techs and returns to defend network regulation

The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes again defended this Tuesday (13) the regulation of social networks and the performance of large technology companies in the country. The magistrate said he saw “unwillingness” on the part of big techs to remove anti-democracy content from the air.

Moraes said that companies “already have the mechanism” to remove publications linked to pedophilia and other crimes, and that it would be enough to extend such tools to include attacks on democracy and hate crimes, such as Nazi demonstrations. “What you have is ill will, self-indulgence. It’s a lot of money involved. If it is bad will, it has to be regulated. It is part of democracy,” he said.

He added that if Congress does not promote such regulation, as discussed in the so-called Fake News Bill (PL 2630/2020), the Supreme Court should act on the subject, through an action that questions excerpts from the Marco Civil da Internet. , informed Agência Brasil. “Regulation is always good, but if there is no such thing, the Judiciary, instigated, provoked, has to manifest itself, and it will judge”, said Moraes.

As president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) during the elections, the minister recounted the experience of hearing from companies the allegation that it was not possible to remove posts within one hour, as determined by the Electoral Court. He, however, countered by stating that it was, yes, possible. “With a push of a button and R$100,000 in fines per hour, anything is possible,” he said.

The speeches took place during an event for guests organized by piauí magazine and sponsored by YouTube, which belongs to Google, which is the subject of an inquiry reported by Moraes himself. The investigation was opened at the request of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), after the company promoted a campaign against the Fake News PL on the eve of it being voted on in the House plenary.