Platform regulation: Between the European model and American tyranny, is there an ideal solution for Brazil?

Abstract

In light of the phenomenon of the mediatization of society, the article comparatively analyzes digital platform regulation models in the United States, the European Union, and Brazil, focusing on curbing disinformation and hate speech. Drawing on scholars such as Hjarvard, Bourdieu, and Martín-Barbero, it highlights the transformation from a mass society to a networked, mediatized society dominated by digital oligopolies. The algorithmic functioning of platforms reinforces symbolic inequalities and fosters polarizing dynamics, leading to the fraying of the social fabric. The study argues that the absence of regulation strengthens digital neo-imperialist practices, particularly those of the United States. The European model is seen as more effective, although it faces resistance from Big Tech and consequences that have not yet been thoroughly studied. In Brazil, the debate is progressing slowly through legislative proposals and Supreme Court actions, but regulation is urgently needed in the face of disinformation, considered the greatest threat to humanity in 2025.