Brazil advances supranational digital and AI regulation amid legislative clash

At the XIV Forum in Lisbon, Brazilian officials warned that the global dominance of big‑tech platforms and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence require a supranational regulatory framework. Minister Alexandre de Moraes said no economic activity with such societal impact has escaped regulation, while Minister Gilmar Mendes warned of a "technofeudalism" that threatens democratic sovereignty. Journalist Thomas Friedman and Pope Francis’s recent encyclical also urged coordinated rules to curb algorithmic polarization and protect fundamental rights online.

In Brazil, President Lula issued decree 12.975 to update the Marco Civil da Internet and give the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) powers to supervise large platforms, especially to protect women and minorities from harmful content. The decree has sparked fierce opposition from right‑wing deputies and senators, who have filed legislative proposals to annul it and claim it threatens freedom of expression. Tech giants such as Google and Meta are preparing legal challenges, and the Supreme Court is set to hear the case in June.