The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the&nbsp;new internet bill&nbsp;which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media. Bill 2630, also known as the "Fake News Law," aims at cracking down on fake news, alleging undue interference in the debate in Congress.&nbsp;

Tech firms, including Apple and Google LLC, have strongly campaigned against the law. The search engine in Brazil had added a link connecting blogs against the bill and had been urging users to lobby their representatives, Reuters reported.

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However, Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Tuesday ordered Google to change the link, warning that the company had two hours after the notification or would have to face fines of one million reais ($198,000) per hour if not done so.

Following this, the US tech firm pulled down the link but defended its right to communicate its concerns through the "marketing campaigns" on its platforms and denied altering search results to favour the bill.&nbsp;

In a statement, the company said, "We support discussions on measures to combat the phenomenon of misinformation. All Brazilians have the right to be part of this conversation, and as such, we are committed to communicating our concerns about Bill 2630 publicly and transparently."

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The proposed law was to be voted on Tuesday in the lower house of Congress but was postponed by Speaker Arthur Lira, following&nbsp;opposition from Conservative and Evangelical lawmakers and allowed&nbsp;for more debate.&nbsp;

The critics say the bill needs "wider debate" because it was hastily drawn up, allows censorship and states that companies would have to pay content providers and copyrights for material&nbsp;posted on their sites.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the executives of Google, Meta and Spotify to testify within five days explaining their respective concerns.&nbsp;

The Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade stated that it would investigate the tech companies' campaigns against the bill.&nbsp;

The bill was hastened even as several new provisions added to it have not been debated in the Congressional committees before going to the vote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the new internet bill which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media.

The Brazilian government is taking a stand against all big tech firms campaigning against the new internet bill which might be one of the world’s strongest legislation on social media. Bill 2630, also known as the "Fake News Law," aims at cracking down on fake news, alleging undue interference in the debate in Congress. Tech firms, including Apple and Google LLC, have strongly campaigned against the law. The search engine in Brazil had added a link connecting blogs against the bill and had been urging users to lobby their representatives, Reuters reported. Also read | No choice but to physically eliminate Zelensky: Russia after 'drone assassination attempt' on Putin However, Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Tuesday ordered Google to change the link, warning that the company had two hours after the notification or would have to face fines of one million reais ($198,000) per hour if not done so. Following this, the US tech firm pulled down the link but defended its right to communicate its concerns through the "marketing campaigns" on its platforms and denied altering search results to favour the bill. In a statement, the company said, "We support discussions on measures to combat the phenomenon of misinformation. All Brazilians have the right to be part of this conversation, and as such, we are committed to communicating our concerns about Bill 2630 publicly and transparently." Also read | Data Lab | India and AI: Are we ahead of the curve? The proposed law was to be voted on Tuesday in the lower house of Congress but was postponed by Speaker Arthur Lira, following opposition from Conservative and Evangelical lawmakers and allowed for more debate. The critics say the bill needs "wider debate" because it was hastily drawn up, allows censorship and states that companies would have to pay content providers and copyrights for material posted on their sites. The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged the executives of Google, Meta and Spotify to testify within five days explaining their respective concerns. The Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade stated that it would investigate the tech companies' campaigns against the bill. The bill was hastened even as several new provisions added to it have not been debated in the Congressional committees before going to the vote. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Brazil’s ‘fake news bill’ sparks outcry from big tech firms; judge orders Google, Meta to testify

Singapore submitted wide-ranging fake news legislation in parliament on Monday, stoking fears from internet firms and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-why-the-term-fake-news-is-doing-more-harm-than-good-155397">human rights groups</a> that it may give the government too much power and hinder freedom of speech.

The law would require social media sites like Facebook to carry warnings on posts the government deems false and remove comments against "public interest".

The move came two days after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-facebook-removes-687-pages-accounts-linked-to-congress-it-cell-ahead-of-elections-207189">Facebook</a> founder Mark Zuckerberg said governments should play a more active role in regulating the online platform.

But Simon Milner, who works on Facebook's public policy in Asia, said after the law was tabled, the firm was "concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users".

"As the most far-reaching legislation of its kind to date, this level of overreach poses significant risks to freedom of expression and speech, and could have severe ramifications both in Singapore and around the world," said Jeff Paine, managing director of the Asia Internet Coalition, an industry association of internet and technology companies in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Singapore's Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the new legislation would not hinder free speech.

"This legislation deals with false statements of facts. It doesn't deal with opinions, it doesn't deal with viewpoints. You can have whatever viewpoints however reasonable or unreasonable," he said.

Tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google all have their Asia headquarters in the city-state, a low-tax finance hub seen as a island of stability in the middle of the fast-growing but often-turbulent Southeast Asia region.

"Malicious actors"

Singapore, which has been run by the same political party since independence from Britain more than 50 years ago, says it is vulnerable to fake news because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and religious population and widespread internet access.

It is ranked 151 among 180 countries rated in the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, a non-government group that promotes freedom of information, below the likes of Russia and Myanmar.

The new bill proposes that the government get online platforms to publish warnings or "corrections" alongside posts carrying false information, without removing them.

This would be the "primary response" to counter falsehoods online, the Law Ministry said.

"That way, in a sense, people can read whatever they want and make up their minds. That is our preference," Law Minister K. Shanmugam told reporters on Monday.

Under the proposals, which must be approved by parliament, criminal sanctions including hefty fines and jail terms will be imposed if the falsehoods are spread by "malicious actors" who "undermine society", the ministry said, without elaborating.

It added that it would cut off an online site's "ability to profit", without shutting it down, if the site had published three falsehoods that were "against the public interest" over the previous six months.

It did not say how it would block a site's profit streams.

The bill came amid talk of a possible general election this year. Law Minister Shanmugam declined to comment when asked if the new legislation was related to a vote.

"This draft law will be a disaster for human rights, particularly freedom of expression and media freedom," said Phil Robertson, deputy director, Asia division, at Human Rights Watch.

"The definitions in the law are broad and poorly defined, leaving maximum regulatory discretion to the government officers skewed to view as "misleading" or "false" the sorts of news that challenge Singapore’s preferred political narratives."

Singapore submitted wide-ranging fake news legislation in parliament on Monday, stoking fears from internet firms and human rights groups that it may give the government too much power and hinder freedom of speech.

Singapore submitted wide-ranging fake news legislation in parliament on Monday, stoking fears from internet firms and human rights groups that it may give the government too much power and hinder freedom of speech. The law would require social media sites like Facebook to carry warnings on posts the government deems false and remove comments against "public interest". The move came two days after Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said governments should play a more active role in regulating the online platform. But Simon Milner, who works on Facebook's public policy in Asia, said after the law was tabled, the firm was "concerned with aspects of the law that grant broad powers to the Singapore executive branch to compel us to remove content they deem to be false and proactively push a government notification to users". "As the most far-reaching legislation of its kind to date, this level of overreach poses significant risks to freedom of expression and speech, and could have severe ramifications both in Singapore and around the world," said Jeff Paine, managing director of the Asia Internet Coalition, an industry association of internet and technology companies in the region. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Singapore's Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the new legislation would not hinder free speech. "This legislation deals with false statements of facts. It doesn't deal with opinions, it doesn't deal with viewpoints. You can have whatever viewpoints however reasonable or unreasonable," he said. Tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google all have their Asia headquarters in the city-state, a low-tax finance hub seen as a island of stability in the middle of the fast-growing but often-turbulent Southeast Asia region. "Malicious actors" Singapore, which has been run by the same political party since independence from Britain more than 50 years ago, says it is vulnerable to fake news because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and religious population and widespread internet access. It is ranked 151 among 180 countries rated in the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, a non-government group that promotes freedom of information, below the likes of Russia and Myanmar. The new bill proposes that the government get online platforms to publish warnings or "corrections" alongside posts carrying false information, without removing them. This would be the "primary response" to counter falsehoods online, the Law Ministry said. "That way, in a sense, people can read whatever they want and make up their minds. That is our preference," Law Minister K. Shanmugam told reporters on Monday. Under the proposals, which must be approved by parliament, criminal sanctions including hefty fines and jail terms will be imposed if the falsehoods are spread by "malicious actors" who "undermine society", the ministry said, without elaborating. It added that it would cut off an online site's "ability to profit", without shutting it down, if the site had published three falsehoods that were "against the public interest" over the previous six months. It did not say how it would block a site's profit streams. The bill came amid talk of a possible general election this year. Law Minister Shanmugam declined to comment when asked if the new legislation was related to a vote. "This draft law will be a disaster for human rights, particularly freedom of expression and media freedom," said Phil Robertson, deputy director, Asia division, at Human Rights Watch. "The definitions in the law are broad and poorly defined, leaving maximum regulatory discretion to the government officers skewed to view as "misleading" or "false" the sorts of news that challenge Singapore’s preferred political narratives."

Facebook, rights groups hit out at Singapore's fake news bill

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Brazil’s ‘fake news bill’ sparks outcry from big tech firms; judge orders Google, Meta to testify

Facebook, rights groups hit out at Singapore's fake news bill