Lula of Brazil describes the alterations to Meta’s fact-checking as “extremely serious”

On Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared that the decision by the social media company Meta (META.O) to discontinue its fact-checking program in the United States was “extremely serious,” and he promised to meet with government representatives to discuss the issue.

According to the Marxist leader, “I’m going to have a meeting today to discuss the Meta issue,” to reporters in Brasilia.

“I think it’s extremely serious that people want digital communication to not have the same responsibility as someone who commits a crime in the written press.”

Prosecutors in Brazil demanded that Meta clarify whether the adjustments would also apply to the South American nation after the company announced on Tuesday that it would alter its fact-checking program in the U.S.

According to a document seen by Reuters, Meta was given 30 days to respond, but the company declined to comment through its Brazilian headquarters.

The order for more information, according to the prosecutors, was connected to an ongoing investigation into the steps social media companies have taken to prevent violence and false information from spreading online in Brazil.

Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the Supreme Court’s ruling last year that temporarily banned social media platform X from the nation, emphasized on Wednesday that in order for tech companies to exist in Brazil, they must abide by local regulations.