Brazil to Seek Revision in Internet Governance

International multimedia news agency Reuters (News - Alert) reports that Brazil is working on guarding its citizens from alleged U.S. spying. According to a draft of the law seen by Reuters, Brazil is moving forward with plans to force global Internet companies to store data obtained from Brazilian users inside the country. Motivated by disclosures of widespread U.S. spying on Brazilian telecom data, president Dilma Rousseff is asking lawmakers to vote as early as this week on the new law. The report indicates that the Brazilian president is determined to create the new Internet governance despite opposition from multinational software, hardware and telecommunications companies.

If passed, as per the report, the new law could change the way Google (News - Alert), Facebook, Twitter and other Internet giants operate in Latin America's biggest country and one of the largest telecommunications markets in the world.

As reported, the draft is asking the Brazilian government to make it necessary for the Internet service companies to install and use data centers for the storage, management and dissemination of data within the country. The proponents of the draft would like the government to evaluate the requirement for each Internet company, taking into consideration its size, revenues in Brazil and the breadth of services offered to the Brazilian citizens.

The president’s office said that the new law does not regulate the way information flows, it only requires that data on Brazilians be stored in Brazil so it is subject to the jurisdiction of Brazilian courts.

This action was prompted by recent reports of U.S. spying on the leaders and citizens of Germany, France and several other countries, including Brazil’s president Rousseff who is also asking the United Nations to strengthen international rules for Internet governance and put limits on foreign surveillance. Rousseff’s proposal to the U.N. is supported by Germany.

Reports show that Brazil is planning to host an Internet security conference in Rio next April to discuss ways to guard Internet privacy from espionage. The meeting will be held by ICAAN, the body that manages web domain names and is considered neutral by many because it includes governments, civil society and industry.