We investigated what matters to Brazilians beyond what is on the election campaign. Read more articles like this by clickinghere.
Why regulate Artificial Intelligence? This statement was not made by lobbyists from US Big Tech corporations, but by a Brazilian parliamentarian. While President Donald Trump supports the advancement of AI without restrictions – which he has come tocall"superintelligence" –Brazilian politicians have been acting in alignment with major technology companies, going against national regulations that directly affect their business models.
A survey conducted based on the "My Candidate is..." panelcaucus"Big Techs?", a reportagem da organização sem fins lucrativos Ctrl Z, revelaWhich candidates in the 2026 elections have this type of record?
The analysis was based on the actions of parliamentarians in legislative proposals, decrees, requests, amendments, and other proceedings in Congress that could affect the functioning and business models of big tech companies. The following items were analyzed:PL 2630/2020also known asPL of Fake Newswhich aimed to establish mechanisms of accountability for digital platforms; thePL 2338/2023, regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence; thePL 2628/2022, which led to the Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents; thePL 896/2023, , which amends Law No. 7.716/1989 to include crimes committed due to misogyny, including conduct such as insults and incitement to hatred against women on the internet; thePL 4675/2023, which establishes new competition defense rules in digital markets; and theREDATA, a special tax regime for data centers.
In addition to individual actions, the report also shows that several politicians have been working together on projects that benefit or reduce the regulation of Big Tech companies. For example, Caroline de Toni, Bia Kicis, Marcel Van Hatten, Kim Kataguiri, and Gilson Marques.They are part of the group that presented around 13 Legislative Decree proposals (PDLs) to challenge decrees nº 12.975 and nº 12.976 related to the Civil Code for Internet.a law, which establishes measures to hold platforms accountable and protect women from harassment, persecution, coordinated attacks, and the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, arguing that the government had overstepped its regulatory authority.
Gilson Marques, Kim Kataguiri, Gustavo Gayer, and Bia Kicis voted against Amendment No. 68 of the Plenary to the REDATA.which advocated for the application of stricter environmental safeguards, such as requirements for 100% renewable energy sources for qualification, and the redirection of fiscal counterfunds to public funds or socio-environmental programs.
The report requested statements from all the politicians mentioned. The space remains open for further statements.
See the performance of each politician below.
Adriana Ventura (NOVO-SP)
Candidate for re-election to the Chamber, was the Vice-President of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence of the Chamber and was part of two parliamentary committees that visited theSilicon ValleyUpon returning from the trip,the politician returned with a speech aligned with that of technology companies regarding the regulation of AIs: "Why are we doing this? Why do we need to hurry? Countries have been discussing this for two, three, four, or five years!", stated duringlecturein May 2024 on the application of AI in the healthcare sector, also mentioning that haste could "kill innovation".
Also presented amendment No. 34/2025 to the ECA Digital text, proposing changes to article 11 of the project regarding artificial intelligence tools for children and adolescents. The proposal stipulated that these resources should be regularly reviewed in collaboration with experts and competent bodies, and it provided for the possibility of disabling functionalities deemed non-essential to the basic functioning of the systems. Voted against the urgency of PL 2630/2020.
Caroline de Toni (PL-SC)
Candidate to the Senate for PL in Santa Catarina, is leading for one of the state's seats, according to the latest Quaest survey.He also voted against the urgency of regulating digital platforms and presented a motion to create a new Special Committee to analyze Bill 4675, which was not approved.
In the discussion of the REDATA, Caroline de Toni presented amendments 110 and 111, proposing changes that would broaden the scope of tax benefits and make it easier for data center companies to access the regime. The proposal, for example, allowed companies previously authorized under the Special Tax Regime for the Platform for the Export of Information Technology Services (REPES) to continue using the previous rules until their authorization in REDATA was approved. It also exempted these companies from the requirement to submit a new installation or expansion project to join the regime.
Gilson Marques (NOVO-SC)
Candidate seeking re-election to the Chamber, heavily criticized digital regulation:voted against the urgent regulation of digital platforms, the regulation of artificial intelligence, and the Digital ECA.
Júlia Zanatta (PL-SC)
Candidate for reelection to the Chamber,voted against the urgent request to regulate digital platforms andexpressedopposition to the bill on misogyny, arguing that the project could pose a risk to freedom of expression and religious freedom.She also opposed PL 4675, which deals with digital markets. As the vice-leader of the PL in the Chamber, she made requests to remove the project from the agenda on several occasions, as well as requests for individual voting, in an obstruction strategy that also involved the then-leader of the party, Sóstenes Cavalcante.
Marcel van Hattem (NOVO-RS)
Candidate for re-election to the Chamber, presented five amendments to the ECA Digital, defended the holding of a public hearing on allegations of child exploitation, but also presented amendments to PL 2628 that altered the obligations of platforms related to risk management by age group and minors' access to illegal or harmful content.
Van Hattem also opposed PL 4675 and presented a request for individual voting. In the case of REDATA, he presented two amendments to MP 1.318/2025, which originally created the regime. Subsequently, the content of the provisional measure was incorporated into PL 278/2026, which gave rise to Law No. 15.504/2026.
Bia Kicis (PL-DF)
As a candidate seeking re-election to the Chamber, during the discussion of the Digital ECA, presented...amendmentsto the ECA Digital, which amended obligations imposed on platforms. She was also among the PL deputies who presented PDLs (Proposals for Legislative Action) against decrees related to the Civil Code for the Internet and online misogyny.
Eduardo Girão (NOVO-CE)
Member of the Senate representing NOVO-CE and running for vice-presidency alongside Zema (NOVO-MG), also criticized digital regulation:did not approve the text of PL 2630 in the Senate, took a position against the regulation of artificial intelligence, and was one of the four votes against the Digital ECA in the Senateconfirmed in theofficial minutesof the session of 27/08/2025, along with Carlos Portinho, Luiz Carlos Heinze, and Jaime Bagattoli.
Fernando Máximo (PL-RO)
Leading the race for one of the Senate seats, Máximo presented four amendments to PL 2628: two of them related toInterceptBrazil revealed that they were directly created by Marconi Borges Machado, the head of public policy at Meta in Brazil since 2017. One of the proposals removed the obligation of platforms to present certain moderation reports; another altered provisions related to fines and criminal sanctions. Both were rejected by the rapporteur. Another amendment presented by Máximo, without Machado's identification in the metadata, contributed to the removal of the "duty of care" from the final text. Voted against the urgency of regulating digital platforms
In the case of REDATA, Máximo presented amendments to MP 1.318/2025, which originally created the regime. The provisional measure lost effectiveness, but its content was later incorporated into PL 278/2026, approved by Congress and sanctioned as Law No. 15.504/2026.
Gustavo Gayer (PL-GO)
Also in the race for the Senate seat in Goiás for PL, voted against the urgency request for PL 2630/2020. The five requests he presented during the regulation of artificial intelligence, dealt with the impact of the regulation on competition and involved discussions about major companies in the sector. Gayer was also among the PL deputies who presented amendments to PL 2628, which changed the obligations of platforms.
During the debate on the Digital ECA,statedthat "the left is using the Felca complaint as an ideological weapon." He is also the author of a PL that questions government decrees related to the topic.
Kim Kataguiri (MISSÃO-SP)
Candidate seeking re-election to the Chamber, voted against the urgent request for PL 2630/2020. Regarding PL 2338/2023, he stated that excessive regulation could hinder the development of the sector, echoing the argument of Adriana Ventura. Kataguiri was also part of the first delegation from the Digital Front to visit the big tech companies inSilicon Valleyin 2022, a trip funded by the Chamber. Furthermore,publicly criticizedthe Digital ECA on his X profile.
