My name (Daniela) is a common one, and my story is more common than people may think.  I have witnessed the raise (and thankfully fall) of the far-right in Brazil. How the country's ex-president Bolsonaro nearly destroyed my country with his short-sighted views and criminal actions! All of this supported by distorted and deceptive information spread on social media platforms like Meta. These platforms, which boast a global audience reaching billions, have allowed the dangerous ideology of the far-right to bloom - critically damaging countries and their democratic institutions.

Who can forget Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal? "Around 50 million Facebook profiles harvested for Cambridge Analytica in major data breach" ('The Cambridge Analytica Files-The Guardian). If you were around and followed the news, you remember "the data analytics firm that worked with Donald Trump's election team and the winning Brexit campaign  (Cambridge Analytica) harvested millions of Facebook team profiles of US voters, and used them to build a powerful software program to predict and influence choices at the ballot box" (The Cambridge Analytica Files-The Guardian-report by Carole Cadwalladr and Emma Graham-Harrison in March 2018 - please see the link https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/17/cambridge-analytica-facebook-influence-us-election Misinformation on social media is a serious problem! The effects are not just confined within my home country. The Trump's MAGA movement in the US and Boris Johnson's tendencies in Britain are a few more examples of how unregulated information can fester and fuel harmful ideologies. They too, like Brazil, have paid the price for the malicious spread of misinformation.

I am (and always will be) in favor of free speech. However, MISINFORMATION IS NOT FREE SPEECH! It does not matter if it comes from far-center-left-right. IT'S NOT A FACT, IT SHOULD NOT BE SPREAD! FULL STOP.

Hence, I call for these platforms, particularly Meta, to be held accountable for their fact-checking policies. It is necessary to ensure that these networks of communication do not become corridors of fake news, propaganda, and misinformation. If checks are not put in place to authenticate the content being shared and validate its sources, the very fabric of societies around the world will be under threat.

Meta just announced it will "get rid of fact checkers and says it will reduce 'censorship' (report by Clare Duffy, CNN, January 2025 - https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/tech/meta-censorship-moderation/index.html Meta is following X's footsteps. Mr. Elon Musk is MAGA happy with this change, it's reported. He is also part of Trump's MAGA team. Mr. Mark Zuckenberg is reportedly changing Meta's fact-changing's policy "just before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office. Trump and other Republicans have lambasted Zuckenberg and Meta for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices"  (report by Clare Duffy, CNN, January 2025). Additionally, Mr. Zuckenberg does not want Mr. Musk to be the only one earning (the trust and therefore money $) from the new US administration. He wants to "improve his relationship with Trump before the president-elect takes office later this month. Just one day earlier, Meta announced Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White would join it's board. Meta has also announced it will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund and that Zuckenberg wants to take an 'active role' in tech policy".   (report by Clare Duffy, CNN, January 2025). It's important to notice that Mr. White is the "second key right-wing appointment in a week" (report by Clare Duffy, CNN, January 2025).

It's not a coincidence that Mr. Zuckenberg is changing its "ideology". It is following a trend that can give voice to ONE (and only ONE) view! And that is for $ (money) not for anything else! Freedom of speech is a term used lightly by Mr. Zuckenberg and his fellow Mr. Musk. I am not sure if they know (or want to know) what free speech means. 

Therefore, I can't think of anything more urgent than addressing this issue. Sign this petition to send a clear message that we want responsible fact-checking protocols on social media, and that countries around the world to have legislations that regulate social platforms' misinformation spread. We (and only we, the people of this world) can fight against falsehoods and uphold the integrity of our world. Let's stand together against the manipulated narratives and ensure a safer, unbiased social media experience for all. Let's also (in your local elections) take a stance on this issue and vote for politicians that are willing to face the GIANT techs and fight for our rights!