OX (former Twitter) solved the problem of the lack of legal representation in Brazil, but will face increasing demands to be minimally effective in content moderation, projects the anthropologist Isabela Kalilone of the main far-right researchers in the country.
Brazilian users began to resume access to X between Tuesday 8th and this Wednesday, after the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes determine the return of the social network Elon Musk in the air.
The blockade had been in force since the end of August and ended after the company settled its legal issues, in particular the payment of fines and the appointment of a formal representative. For Kalil, this does not, however, exhaust the gaps in the platform’s functioning.
“There is no point in having legal representation and having no content moderation, which is what currently happens”he stated, in an interview with the program Direct from Electionsnot channel CartaCapital on YouTube. “We will most likely move towards a situation where a platform without content moderation becomes unacceptable.”
While Congress refuses to discuss the regulation of networks, the STF may judge a case later this year that questions the constitutionality of article 19 of the Internet Civil Framework Law. The provision requires a specific court order before websites, internet providers and social media apps are held liable for harmful content posted by others.
The Supreme Court has been urged to recognize the possibility of punishing platforms for allowing the circulation of posts with coup content or references to violence against certain social groups, regardless of a court decision.
It is impossible to determine now, Kalil ponders, what Musk and X will do – but they will be increasingly pressured by Brazil and other countries to curb criminal content and hate speech.
A didactic example comes from Europe. Since Pavel Durovthe founder of Telegramhe was detained in Francethe company changed its stance in dealing with Justice. From little attention to requests for information about its operation, it started to collaborate with the French authorities and made available data that can contribute, for example, to uncovering cases of child sexual abuse on the networks.
The anthropologist also assesses that there is a change in the perspective on digital platforms. She mentions the migration of Brazilians to Bluesky during the period when X was inaccessible and emphasizes that Musk’s network became a favorable space for the far right.
“What has emerged is that the future of platforms is segmentation: we will have platforms for those on the far right and platforms that tend to have more progressive users.”
