Brazil Senate Green Lits Controversial Fake News Bill, But Conditions Apply

Brazil’s Senate head David Alcolumbre, on Tuesday, greenlit a bill pertaining to the right to fight fake news. While the bill’s main text got approval by 44 upvotes and 32 against it, the votes of lower house lawmakers await. Senators also called for amendments to the bill, after the approval of the main text came through.

Stressing upon the need for social media transparency, Alcolumbre took to Twitter to put forth his stance. “We need to understand this universe and recognize that freedom of expression cannot be confused with aggression, violence, or threat,” he tweeted.

The bill’s rapporteur, Senator Angelo Coronel suggested that the move came in a bid to protect the rights of the minors. “We tried to make the text more concise, ensuring the right of reply and the immediate removal of content in serious situations such as the violation of the rights of children and adolescents, prejudice due to issues of race, ethnicity and national origin.”

Brazil continues to grapple under the pandemic and occupies the second spot among a list of countries to be the hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has amassed severe backlash, with opponents calling for his impeachment after Bolsonaro repeatedly flouted the health warnings, and refused to take accountability for the surge in the fatalities.

Brazil currently stands at 1,408,485 cases with 59,656 deaths. Bolsonaro has been accused of downplaying the severity of the pandemic and instigating people to go out and work -- ignoring the warnings by his own health ministry. A federal court judge recently warned Bolsonaro of hefty penalties if the president was spotted outdoors, without a mask on.

On the upside, President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday signed a decree to roll out emergency stipends to the impoverished Brazilian workers who’ve lost their livelihoods owing to the COVID-19 crisis. The plunging economy has pushed the Bolsonaro government to extend a monthly stipend of 600 reais ($110), previously set to expire this month, in a bid to help and bolster his popularity among the needy, who’s been reduced to a life of penury, ever since the outbreak ravaged across Brazil.