Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the Special Rapporteur to urge the Brazilian government to regulate digital platforms, strengthen journalist protection, and promote media pluralism in his upcoming report.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 13 February 2025.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) met with Pedro Vaca, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, during his official visit to Brazil. The NGO called on him to urge the Brazilian government to regulate digital platforms, strengthen journalist protection, and promote media pluralism in his upcoming report.
From 9 to 14 February, Pedro Vaca met with state authorities and civil society organisations to assess the state of press freedom and freedom of expression in the country. RSF met with the rapporteur on two occasions and outlined three key recommendations to mitigate the growing threats to journalism in Brazil.
“As long as Brazil lacks robust regulations to ensure platform accountability, uphold the right to trustworthy information, and establish clear AI governance, the country will remain exposed to mass disinformation and the systematic erosion of trust in journalism. Equally urgent are stronger policies to protect at-risk journalists and promote media pluralism. Pedro Vaca’s visit is a crucial moment to push the government and Congress to act decisively, ensuring a safer, more pluralistic, and resilient information space.”
Artur Romeu, Director of RSF’s Latin America Bureau
The first and most urgent issue RSF raised was the regulation of social media platforms. Brazil has become a battleground for freedom of expression online, with far-right groups opposing government efforts to curb disinformation and online violence. RSF stressed the crucial need for clear, democratic regulations for digital platforms to ensure the public’s access to reliable information and hold tech giants accountable for the disinformation that permeates their products and services.
RSF also called for urgent reforms to journalist protection policies. While Brazil’s Protection Program for Human Rights Defenders, Communicators, and Environmentalists has existed for over 20 years, it remains underfunded, poorly structured, and ineffective in addressing the specific risks that journalists face. The government is preparing a draft bill to strengthen the program, but it lacks vital provisions tailored to journalists’ needs.
Moreover, the National Observatory on Violence Against Journalists, created by the Ministry of Justice, has been inactive for over a year with next to no meetings and inoperative working groups, further weakening the institutional response to attacks on the press. RSF urged the IACHR to recommend the Observatory’s immediate reactivation in his report, as well as stronger government commitments to combating impunity for crimes against journalists.
Lastly, RSF underscored Brazil’s persistent media concentration, which limits access to diverse and independent journalism. The NGO highlighted the importance of adopting public policies and financial support mechanisms that strengthen local, community-based and independent media outlets, fostering a more diverse and resilient media landscape that is less susceptible to political and economic influence.
Alongside these recommendations, RSF and its partner organisations submitted a comprehensive report to the IACHR detailing additional threats to press freedom and freedom of expression in Brazil. The IACHR will publish its findings and recommendations to the Brazilian government in the coming months. RSF remains committed to ensuring these pressing issues are not just recognised but effectively addressed by Brazil’s authorities.
