Analysis: As Brazil cracks down on fake news, Bolsonaro’s new move is straight out of Trump’s playbook
President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said that while social media should be free, there will be limits put in place on the information.
This means his administration will be more like US President Donald Trump than it is like previous administrations, where news channels such as Fox News have gained power in the political space.
Bolsonaro took a swipe at Facebook after the site published a video clip that alleged the president-elect had called for violence against journalists.
The president-elect, who is set to take office in more than 100 days’ time, said he does not want to stifle free speech but said such a move would not be tolerated on the social media platform.
“Let’s discuss the issue in peace and without censorship,” he told reporters, in reference to threats made against him following last year’s election.
“My administration will be responsible for the truth,” he said, while adding that “these are just words, you will understand it very well in 20 days,” referring to his inauguration in early July.
Trump has already established himself as one of the most prolific social media users in the world. Of the US President, Twitter said in October that he now makes the most prolific and sustained use of its service to launch and promote his political campaign.
Bolsonaro’s comments follow a series of tough measures taken by his government last Friday that include the expulsion of the country’s ambassador from Canada over allegations of diplomatic misconduct.
And while he has taken clear steps to crack down on illegal drugs, he has failed to impose stiffer rules on the use of firearms in the country.
In his first four months in office, at least 19 people were killed in drug related incidents.
During his first speech to Congress, Bolsonaro announced a series of new measures that will limit the rights of political opposition and “protect Brazilian sovereignty”.
In the first days he was in office, he also announced the creation of a Commission Against Fake News to counter state-run news media in the country.
Bolsonaro