Brazil’s Bolsonaro blocks social networks from deleting posts

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has blocked social media companies from deleting some posts on Monday.

The president’s press office announced the move was to protect “freedom of speech” and eliminate “arbitrary removal” of accounts and content, Reuters reported.

The decree allows previously banned content to be reposted and has social media companies “give clarity” to its policies. 

Tech companies and internet law experts told The New York Times the new decree is the first time a national government has stopped a social media platform from implementing its own rules. 

The decree only lets the social media companies remove posts having to deal with topics like drugs, violence, nudity, violate copyright laws or encourage crime. 

All other posts can only be taken down if the company gets a court order, according to the NYT. 

Posts regarding misinformation are not included in the exemptions from the rule and would require a court order to take down. 

Tech companies have gone after Boslonaro in the past with YouTube taking down a video from the president’s channel in July for coronavirus misinformation. 

The decree will also block social media networks from taking down posts stating Bolsonaro can only lose the presidential election next year if it is rigged.