Presidential candidate Cury backs taxing big tech, vows to sue Zuckerberg

Augusto Cury, a presidential candidate for Brazil's Avante party in 2026, has called for significantly higher taxes on major technology companies. He stated his intention to hold executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, legally responsible for the detrimental impacts of digital platforms on the mental health of children and adolescents.

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I intend to take Zuckerberg and other industry leaders to an international court.

During a forum hosted by CBN, O Globo, and Valor, Cury drew a parallel between taxing big tech and taxing products with addictive potential, such as cigarettes. He argued that the more addictive a platform is, the higher the tax burden should be on the company. Simultaneously, Cury acknowledged the potential of social media for institutional communication, citing government bodies like Itamaraty as examples of entities that could use these platforms to promote Brazil internationally.

Cury expressed opposition to implementing controls on these platforms and rejected the idea of banning applications like Discord. He believes the primary solutions to problems arising from excessive technology use lie in holding companies accountable and educating families. The writer and psychiatrist noted that excessive digital content consumption can contribute to addiction, anxiety, and irritability among young people, classifying it as a public health issue.

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The greater the potential for addiction of a platform, the greater the tax burden on the company should be.

He recommended that parents establish periods of detachment from smartphones, particularly on weekends, and stated that children under 14 should not have access to social media. Cury also proposed substantial fines for companies proven to be responsible for cases of self-harm and suicide attempts linked to the digital environment. The candidate reiterated his stance outside the traditional left-right political divide, criticizing polarization and suggesting that many of the population's problems stem from this division.

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Social media can also be used as instruments of institutional communication.