UN Human Rights Office Calls for Proportional Restrictions on Social Media Platforms

The UN Human Rights Office is considering publishing a paper outlining the parameters for evaluating situations involving social media platforms and freedom of expression. This comes in response to the recent blocking of X in Brazil, where the supreme court upheld a lower court's decision to suspend the platform for alleged legal violations.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, expressed concerns about the Brazilian case, highlighting the need for states to ensure social media platforms comply with the law while respecting freedom of expression. She emphasized that any restrictions imposed should be proportional and aligned with international human rights standards.

Shamdasani acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining complete information about the case against X and its owner, Pavel Durov, due to limited access. However, she stressed the importance of states regulating platforms in a manner consistent with international human rights law. This includes addressing issues like hate speech, incitement to violence, and harmful disinformation.

In November 2022, UN human rights chief Volker Turk wrote to Elon Musk, the owner of X, urging him to prioritize human rights on the platform. He warned against the spread of hate speech and misinformation, emphasizing the need to protect user privacy.