1 May 2024
At the opening of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group event on information integrity, Minister Paulo Pimenta of the Social Communication Secretariat (Secom/PR) underscored Brasil’s endeavors to counter misinformation and hate speech on a global scale.
The regulation of digital platforms and the role of the global community are at the forefront of the discussion. Representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations (UN) express their support and hope for a healthy Internet.
Brazilian Minister Paulo Pimenta from Secom/PR at the opening conference of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group side event on information integrity, this Wednesday, May 1st, in São Paulo | Photo: G20 Brasil Audiovisual
The promotion and defense of information integrity are at the center of global debates, with Brasil taking a leadership role. Minister Paulo Pimenta of the Social Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (Secom/PR) stated that the country is leading a global initiative to promote information integrity regarding climate change, and sees the G20 as a privileged platform for this purpose. The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, during the opening of a G20 Digital Economy Working Group side event in São Paulo.
Pimenta indicated that the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are collaborating in the development of the proposal, which aims to facilitate the integration of international research collectives such as the Global Knowledge Network, the International Observatory on Information and Democracy, and the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), as well as other UN agencies directly involved in addressing climate change.
“We believe that misinformation and hate speech impede the full exercise of individual and collective rights. Countering misinformation and hate speech strengthens freedom of expression by promoting access to information for society as a whole and protecting the expression rights of minority groups,” asserted the Brazilian minister.
During his address, Pimenta also underscored the Brazilian government’s commitment to ongoing dialogue to address misinformation and hate speech, while advocating for human rights. To illustrate these efforts, the minister highlighted initiatives such as Brasil Contra Fake (in English, Brasil Against Fake News), ComunicaBR, and the Brazilian Media Education Strategy. “Brasil is dedicated to a comprehensive approach that promotes a balance of rights. We believe in the value of information and transparency to ensure that citizens have accurate information about the government and public policies,” the minister emphasized.
Platform regulation
Pimenta further underscored that Brasil will persist in advocating for the “democratic” regulation of digital platforms globally. The government’s head of communications reiterated that the business model of these companies favors the spread of misinformation and hate speech and that platforms need to “take more responsibility to ensure that the digital environment is not used for the dissemination of illegal content.”
“The regulation should be balanced to promote and ensure freedom of expression while protecting other fundamental rights of citizens. We understand that the European Union and the United Kingdom are benchmarks of recent legislation that align with this direction and should inspire global discussions,” stated the minister.
Source – Brasilian G20 Presidency