Google Hires Former Brazilian President Michel Temer to Lobby for Internet Law

Google has hired former Brazilian President Michel Temer to lobby lawmakers considering a proposal to regulate the internet, an aide to the former president said on Friday.

The local newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo was the first to report the news.

The legislative proposal, also known as the Fake News law, would put the onus on internet companies, search engines and social messaging services to find and report illegal material, and charge heavy fines for not doing so.

The new rule has raised concerns among technology companies, as some have launched campaigns on their platforms to defeat it.

Two months ago, the South American country’s top court ordered an investigation into executives of the social messaging service Telegram and Google who led a campaign criticizing the proposed regulation.

Folha de Sao Paulo reported that Temer confirmed that for the past three weeks he has been working as a “mediator” between the company and parliamentarians.

Temer’s adviser said the former president was hired by the company to negotiate legal proposals and talks with the Brazilian parliament.

Temer denied Folha having held talks with magistrates from the highest court, but the newspaper reported that he has met with legislator Orlando Silva, manager of internet legislation, to discuss parts of the project.

Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and Activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and instagram.