President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed on May 20, 2026, a decree updating the regulation of the Marco Civil da Internet — the 2014 law governing rights and duties on the Brazilian internet — requiring digital platforms to act preventively against criminal content. The measure responds to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) decision of June 2025, which declared Article 19 of the Marco Civil partially unconstitutional for being insufficient to protect fundamental rights in the digital age. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O segundo decreto assinado pelo presidente atualiza o Decreto nº 8.771, de 2016, que regulamenta o Marco Civil da Internet, a partir de entendimentos fixados pelo STF sobre a inconstitucionalidade parcial e progressiva do regime de responsabilidade de plataformas digitais."
"O texto, que ainda será publicado no Diário Oficial da União, reforça que empresas que operam no Brasil precisam cumprir a legislação brasileira e atuar de forma proativa e proporcional para impedir a circulação massiva de conteúdos criminosos."
The new decree establishes that companies like Meta, Google and X must "act proactively and proportionally to prevent the massive circulation of criminal content" — including terrorism, sexual exploitation of minors, human trafficking and violence against women. The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) will be responsible for regulating, supervising and investigating infractions, according to the Presidency. The text has not yet been published in the Official Gazette. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A medida ainda atribui competência à Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD) para regular, fiscalizar e apurar infrações ao Marco Civil da Internet."
"As plataformas também deverão agir preventivamente para impedir a circulação de postagens relacionadas a crimes graves, como terrorismo, exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes, tráfico de pessoas, incentivo à automutilação e violência contra mulheres"
The STF decision of June 26, 2025, taken by 8 votes to 3 in Extraordinary Appeals 1,037,396 and 1,057,258, overturned the rule that required prior judicial order for civil liability of platforms. According to the court, "the current model, while ensuring freedom of expression, does not sufficiently guarantee the protection of fundamental rights and democracy itself," constituting "partial legislative omission" by Congress. Only ministers André Mendonça, Edson Fachin and Nunes Marques dissented from the majority. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"Nesta quinta-feira, 26, o STF, por maioria de oito votos a três, reconheceu a inconstitucionalidade parcial do art. 19 do marco civil da internet (lei 12.965/14), que condicionava a responsabilização civil das plataformas digitais à existência de prévia ordem judicial para remoção de conteúdo."
"Ao firmar entendimento, o STF concluiu que o modelo atual, embora assegure a liberdade de expressão, não garante de forma suficiente a proteção de direitos fundamentais e da própria democracia, diante da ampla disseminação de conteúdos ilícitos no ambiente digital."
"Apenas os ministros André Mendonça, Edson Fachin e Nunes Marques divergiram, considerando o dispositivo constitucional"
The decree updates Decree No. 8,771/2016 and provides that platforms can be held liable for "recurring failures" in preventing fraud and scams, especially in content boosted by paid advertising. Advertising companies must maintain data for eventual accountability of authors. Private messaging, email and videoconferencing services are excluded from the new rules, preserving the constitutional secrecy of communications. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Nos casos de conteúdos criminosos impulsionados por publicidade paga, as plataformas poderão ser responsabilizadas quando houver falhas recorrentes na adoção de medidas para prevenir fraudes, golpes e crimes."
"Serviços de mensageria privada, e-mail e videoconferência não estão enquadrados nas novas regras relacionadas à circulação de conteúdos ilícitos, uma vez que a Constituição preserva o direito ao sigilo das comunicações."
Decree was signed on May 20, 2026 during ceremony marking 100 days of the National Pact Brazil Against Femicide
ANPD will evaluate systemic action of platforms, not isolated decisions about specific content
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Decree preserves rights to expression, information, criticism, parodies and religious manifestations
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What is the official number and full content of the signed decree?
Why it's still unknown: The decree has not yet been published in the Official Gazette, making access to the full text and official number impossible
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What are the specific technical criteria that ANPD will use to assess whether platforms are complying with preventive obligations?
Why it's still unknown: The decree establishes that evaluation will consider 'systemic and diligent action' but does not specify metrics or methodologies
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What is the real technical feasibility of platforms preventively detecting criminal content without high false positive rates?
Why it's still unknown: Sources do not address current technical capabilities of automated vs. human moderation, volumes processed or compliance costs
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Are there legal or sectoral challenges already announced against the decree?
Why it's still unknown: Coverage focused on the act's announcement, without mentioning reactions from the technology sector or critical legal opinions