A threat to freedom of opinion is on Dilma's desk.

His name is Lúcio Big. Perhaps it's just for use on social media.

Two years ago, this 44-year-old Brazilian took up the fight. Against whom? Against corruption, that endemic disease that affects millions of people, from the illustrious senator to the corner policeman who accepts a beer and cancels a driver's fine.
Since he lives in Brasília, Lucio Big had a golden opportunity to exercise his instinct as a hunter (for now, with a cedilla) of corrupt individuals and the like.

He opened a YouTube account, another on Facebook, and in March of this year, equipped with a computer with internet access, a Sony portable camcorder, and a strong desire to expose corrupt individuals, Lúcio Big launched "Operation Catch the Scoundrel," abbreviated as OPS.

Lúcio targeted the financial reports of members of parliament and senators. The publication of some suspicious cases led dozens of interested people to contact him with complaints.

"People from all over the country sent me information, photos, and documents. That's how I managed to put together a list of 20 names to give to the TCU," he says.

The report was submitted to the Federal Court of Accounts in early July and is currently under review.

Between July and August, the website Congresso em Foco checked the information gathered by Lúcio.

Based on this information, he published a series of reports on irregularities involving vehicle rentals and other expenses made using parliamentary funds.

What Lúcio Big didn't imagine was that his careful investigation of the excesses committed by the noble parliamentarians would inspire the PSDB senator Cássio Cunha Lima (PSDB-PB) during the discussions of the mini electoral reform.

Cunha Lima, who was previously punished for an unfounded accusation and took years to regain his seat in the Senate, included an amendment in the bill that criminalizes the dissemination of offensive messages and comments online against candidates, parties, and coalitions throughout the entire election period.

The text, including the amendment by Cássio Cunha Lima, was approved by Congress and is on President Dilma's desk, about to be signed into law.

If approved without Dilma's veto, anyone who disseminates this type of content could be punished with a fine of up to R$ 30 and a prison sentence of up to one year.

The penalty for hiring services to attack political opponents – so-called trolls – is up to four years in prison and a fine of R$ 50.

The problem – and all the "commentators" who use the internet should agree with me on this – is how someone can distinguish whether the content of a message is justified or not. Whether it is offensive or not.

In theory, it is enough for the text to attack the honor or denigrate the image of a candidate for legal action to be taken. But who will decide whether or not there was an offense or aggression?

That's an exaggeration. For cases of slander or defamation, there's the Penal Code.

We expect this amendment to be vetoed by the president. But it's a clear indication of how difficult it will be to achieve internet regulation, something Dilma herself desires.