Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday to address bilateral and global issues, focusing on digital sovereignty and combating disinformation.
In a statement, the Brazilian government said that during the 30-minute call, Lula praised France's stance on Meta's decision to reduce fact-checking on its platforms. Both leaders agreed that "freedom of expression" should not permit the spreading of "lies, prejudice, and offenses." They highlighted the need for joint efforts between Brazil and Europe to prevent “fake news” from undermining sovereignty, democracy, and fundamental rights. Macron reiterated his invitation for Lula to make a state visit to France in June and attend the UN Conference on Oceans.
Earlier that day, Brazil's federal government announced it would officially notify Meta to clarify the implications of its guideline changes within 72 hours. The move follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recent decision to replace fact-checkers with "community notes," a system similar to Elon Musk's X Corp.
