Waack: STF supports Lula in regulating networks

What direction is Brazil moving in when it comes to regulating artificial intelligence and big tech? The dean of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), minister Gilmar Mendes, thinks he is moving in the right direction.

Of course, thanks to the Supreme Court itself, which recently established new parameters to hold digital platforms accountable, and to the federal government, which has just issued decrees assigning this National Data Protection Authority the fight against serious crimes in the digital environment.

A good part of the Legislature thinks that Brazil is moving in the wrong direction and attacking freedom of expression by creating a kind of "ministry of truth" that will define what is "hate speech" or "anti-democratic content".

In the Senate, a draft legislative decree has already been filed that intends to overturn the effects of the acts recently promulgated by the Executive and praised by Gilmar Mendes.

Of course, the issue is complex and involves many factors.

Among them the enormous economic power of big techs, their ability to command information flows depending on their thirst for profits, the need to protect victims of deep fakes and ensure an atmosphere of minimum respect for electoral rules.

But that's not what's being discussed, it's who should do it. Then another problem comes into play, clearly political in nature, and, at the moment, insurmountable.

It is the legitimacy of the Supreme and Executive before the Legislature when it comes to formulating laws with such scope.

In other words, given the degree of public distrust, what is being done to regulate big tech and artificial intelligence is less important than who is doing it.

Source: CNN