Brazil Proposes Law to Criminalize False Health Information in Media

Brazil's Câmara dos Deputados is currently reviewing a significant legislative proposal, Project of Law 2709/26, which aims to criminalize the intentional dissemination of false or misleading health information through all media channels. This law targets misinformation about vaccines, epidemics, and medical treatments, imposing penalties of one to three years in prison and fines on offenders. The penalties are more severe for health professionals or individuals who profit from spreading false information, with imprisonment ranging from two to five years, alongside fines and potential suspension of professional credentials.

The project also holds those accountable if false information leads to refusals of treatment resulting in serious injury or death, enabling charges of bodily harm or homicide when the harm was foreseeable. It mandates health professionals to base public statements strictly on established scientific evidence and validated clinical trial results, prohibiting advocacy for pseudoscientific practices. Furthermore, digital platforms and social media are required to identify and flag health-related content lacking technical verification.

Deputies Fernanda Melchionna and Luizianne Lins, who presented the bill, emphasized the need to combat dangerous misinformation that threatens public health while respecting freedom of expression. The legislation is currently under review by several committees before being voted on in the Plenary, with the aim of approval by both the Câmara and the Senate to become law.