In the present time, Latin America finds itself in a better position to resist foreign influence than it did in the 1970s of the past century. Organizational efforts in Latin America are extending far beyond the boundaries of social networks to other new technologies. These efforts provoked conspiracy theories and protests, which later turned into acts of oppression. This system of opposition was sustained through state violence, detention, and torture of thousands of people caused condemnation.
Previously, the Chilean president Salvador Allende attempted to implement the "Siberzin" project, an ambitious initiative aimed at creating economic planning using a network of teletypes and primitive forms of algorithmic decision-making to strengthen state control over the economy and reduce dependence on foreign companies. However, "Siberzin" was dismantled after the successful support of the USA coup, which led to the establishment of Pinochet's dictatorial regime.
Currently, Latin America is much better positioned to resist foreign influence than in the 1970s of the past century. The Brazilian leadership, participating in the recent summit of the "Big Twenty," called for the urgent enactment of laws regulating social networks and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the existence of local will opposing the requirements and authority of large companies from the Kremlin chain.
In response to this, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court has already tightened laws and ordered platforms to remove false political statements. Organizational efforts in the region extend beyond the boundaries of social networks to other new technologies, and even now, such countries as Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile consider legislation regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Chile was the first country to recognize "the right to neuro rights," ensuring protection against the abuse of neurotechnologies, such as brain-computer interfaces capable of counting or manipulating thoughts, emotions, or cognitive processes. These advanced technologies could be used in medicine, but they also raise ethical issues about confidentiality and cognitive freedom.
Political leaders across Latin America face heads of global technology companies concerning their influence on society. Chile's President Gabriel Boric criticized SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for supporting far-right movements. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated: "The world should not tolerate Musk’s support for far-right politics just because of his wealth."
Many residents of Latin America remember how political power was abused in the past, undermining the democratic structure in times of military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s in countries like Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. After the coup in Chile in 1973, the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, with the help of the "Chicago Boys" group, economists from Latin America, ensured the privatization of sectors and the reduction of social guarantees.
Leaders of gigantic technology companies, such as Meta, Google, and X, attended the front rows during the inauguration of President Donald Trump, which signifies the strengthening of increasingly closer ties between leaders, technology companies, and the White House. A few weeks before the midterm elections, Meta's head Mark Zuckerberg announced cooperation with President Trump to resist governments worldwide, subsequently American companies that are already seeking to tighten control.
Latin America positions itself as a region that quickly reacts to the protection of democratic institutions against the abuse of social networks and other technologies. For instance, the law on "fake news," proposed by Brazil, is aimed at regulating social networks and curtailing false information, yet it faced strong opposition from Google and is still being discussed in the Brazilian Congress.
Another example is the case in August 2024 when the Brazilian Supreme Court prohibited the site X for non-compliance with legal requirements, including blocking accounts on social networks, which were allegedly accused of disseminating false information related to the 2022 elections, and declined to appoint a local representative. The X site remained blocked until October 8, 2024, when it was heard by a judge, fined 28 million reais (5.1 million dollars), and appointed a judicial representative.
This court decision was part of a broader effort in Brazil to protect its democratic structure and prevent any possible violations through the use of technology and social networks. These measures have already been tightened since former president Jair Bolsonaro used social platforms to spread false information before the 2022 elections, and afterwards attacked democratic institutions, mobilizing supporters before the attack on government buildings on January 8, 2023. Platforms were used to disseminate false claims about vote rigging, discredit the mainstream media, and also spread false information about the opponents of Bolsonaro.
