Trump Administration Launches Tariff Assault on Brazil, Challenging National Reactions to Tech Monopolies
In the digital landscape, a power struggle between the US and Brazil is unfolding. This conflict revolves around Brazil's assertive digital governance policies, which the US views as an attack on free expression but are rooted in Brazil's constitutional approach to platform regulation as a democratic safeguard.
The tension began in May 2023 when digital platform companies, in alliance with far-right parliamentarians, created pressure to postpone a vote on a platform regulation bill. This was followed by the US Trade Representative opening a formal investigation into digital trade, putting pressure on Brazil to weaken enforcement of rules against US tech companies.
Brazil, however, has a strong digital sovereignty framework, established with the Marco Civil da Internet in 2014, followed by the Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados in 2018, and constitutional recognition of data protection as a fundamental right in 2021. The Federal Supreme Court (STF) has actively countered disinformation, political extremism, and digital abuse, treating content moderation as a constitutional, not just private, issue essential to democracy.
The US response has been aggressive. In 2025, the US abruptly imposed a 50% tariff increase on Brazilian goods, framed officially as a response to trade deficits but analysis shows the tariffs mainly aim to pressure Brazil to ease its regulatory stance on Big Tech and protect allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The US also revoked visas of Brazilian judicial officials, including STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing them of persecuting expression and pressuring US tech companies to censor content globally.
Behind the scenes, US tech giants such as Google and Meta have engaged in confidential talks with Brazilian officials and Supreme Court justices after the tariff threats, signaling a coordinated US effort to influence Brazil’s digital regulatory environment.
The conflict has sparked a wave of resistance from Brazilian civil society. Sectors of Brazilian civil society began a process of mobilization around the defense of digital platform regulation. More than 100 organizations and collectives created the Legal Internet Campaign to promote regulations and policies that guarantee human and digital rights. Over 200 academic, professional, civil society, and social movement organizations signed a letter in defense of national sovereignty.
President Lula has been vocal in his stance, stating that Brazil is a sovereign country with independent institutions that will not accept being taken for granted by anyone. The Network for Digital Sovereignty sent a letter to President Lula advocating for the creation of a National Plan for Digital Sovereignty.
The implications of this conflict are significant. It threatens Brazil’s democratic management of digital platforms, emphasizing accountability, transparency, and the fight against disinformation. It exemplifies geopolitical tensions where digital sovereignty and data governance become contested arenas between the US-led tech sector and countries seeking independent regulatory control.
Brazil's defiant stance, backed by civil society and legal experts, highlights resistance to what is seen as extraterritorial US interference aiming to protect commercial interests and political allies rather than legitimate trade concerns. The conflict signals broader challenges for global digital governance, with sovereign states pushing back against pressures to conform to US-favored deregulatory models and reveals how digital regulation is becoming a flashpoint in US-Latin America relations.
The Rights on the Net Coalition criticized the US attack, stating that the pressure aims to prevent the application or updating of rules on digital platforms that could generate more costs for implementing regulations in the digital environment. Brazil should encourage proposals for international cooperation with other nations that strengthen digital sovereignty and technologies for the promotion of the rights of populations, especially for the marginalized.
References:
- The Intercept
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- Reuters
- The New York Times
- The power struggle between the US and Brazil over digital governance has also become a topic of social media discourse, with many voicing concerns about the impact of policy-and-legislation on technology and free expression.
- The conflict, rooted in Brazil's stance on war-and-conflicts in digital platforms, has led to a wave of entertainment content addressing the issue, using it as a backdrop for political drama and satire.
- As the dispute unfolds, general-news outlets such as The Intercept, The Guardian, BBC News, Reuters, and The New York Times have been actively covering this issue, providing detailed accounts of politics surrounding this tech-driven conflict.
