Brazil: Passed Bill on the rights of users of social media networks (PL 592/2023)

On 20 March 2024, the Commission for Communication and Digital Law (CCDD) approved the Bill on the rights of users of social media networks (PL 592/2023). The proposed legislation aims to amend the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet (Law No. 12.965/2014) and (Law No. 9.610/1998), with the explicit objective of defining the rights and protections provided to users of social networks and establishing regulations regarding content moderation by service providers. In particular, the Bill aims to establish guidelines for major social network providers, those with more than 10 million users in Brazil, to moderate the content on their platforms in a manner that does not unduly restrict the fundamental rights and guarantees of Brazilian citizens. The Bill includes provisions that ensure users have the right to receive clear, public, and objective information about the policies, procedures, measures, and tools employed for potential content moderation. Social network providers must notify the user of any moderation decision, clearly stating the action taken, providing the rationale for the decision, specifying time frames, electronic communication channels, and procedures for contesting the decision, along with the option for a possible review of the decision.