Photo Credit: Palácio do Planalto

By Fernanda Trompcynski 

Last week, the global debate over freedom of expression took on even more serious and worrying dimensions. US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 50% tariff on imports of all Brazilian products, generating concerns about the national economy, as the US is Brazil’s second-largest trading partner.

As justification, Trump cited the “insidious attacks” on “Americans’ fundamental rights of expression,” referring to the Supreme Court’s decisions on holding social media platforms accountable for published content, defined after the ruling on the unconstitutionality of Article 19 of the Internet Civil Rights Framework .

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However, Trump’s mistake doesn’t invalidate a legitimate debate. How can we guarantee the right to freedom of expression in an environment marked by misinformation, polarization, and a lack of objective legislation? Brazil is going through a delicate moment, in which the fight against digital violence and disinformation has become conflated with authoritarian practices.

The Supreme Federal Court’s paternalistic action raises legitimate questions, including abroad, about the boundaries between regulation and censorship. In this context, the importance of diverse spaces for debate stands out, such as the Freedom of Expression Masterclass, hosted by the Sivis Institute in partnership with Belavista College, from July 14th to 17th in São Paulo.

The event was attended by lawyer and professor Jacob Mchangama, a world-renowned figure on the subject, who gave two lectures and participated in the launch of the Portuguese version of his book ” Freedom of Expression: From Socrates to Social Media .” Regarding the issue, Mchangama notes: “It is a grave mistake when institutions in countries facing polarization think that freedom of expression is the cause, rather than a reflection, of the collapse of trust.”

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Jacob Mchangama is the Founder and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech. He is also a research professor at Vanderbilt University and a Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).