Brazil’s Solicitor General announced on Friday that the government will give Meta until Monday to explain the programme.
TakeAway Points:
- Brazil’s government will give Meta until Monday to explain the program, Solicitor General Jorge Messias said on Friday.
- Volkswagen and Xpeng will open their respective super-fast charging networks to each other’s customers in China as part of a memorandum of understanding.
- The two firms will explore cooperation on co-branded super-fast charging stations, the companies said.
Brazil gives Meta 72 hours to explain changes to fact-checking program
The move comes after the social media company scrapped its U.S. fact-checking program and reduced curbs on discussions around topics such as immigration and gender identity.
It is not immediately clear exactly what will happen after the deadline expires.
“I’d like to express the Brazilian government’s enormous concern about the policy adopted by the Meta company, which is like an airport windsock, changing its position all the time according to the winds,” Messias, the government’s top lawyer, told reporters in Brasilia.
“Brazilian society will not be at the mercy of this kind of policy,” Messias added.
On Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the changes were “extremely serious” and announced he had to discuss the topic.
In announcing the move on Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg cited “too many mistakes and too much censorship”. A spokesperson said on Tuesday that, for now, Meta was planning the changes only for the U.S. market.
Volkswagen and Xpeng to build super-fast charging network in China for EVs
Shares of Volkswagen and Xpeng both rose on Monday after the two firms announced plans to expand their partnership in electric vehicle charging stations in China.
The German automaker and Chinese electric car firm signed a memorandum of understanding in which they pledged to open their respective super-fast charging networks to each other’s customers. The collaboration will see more than 20,000 charging points operated by both firms in 420 cities across China.
Xpeng’s Hong Kong-listed shares closed 3.4% higher on Monday. Volkswagen was up 2% in early trade in Europe.
Volkswagen and Xpeng will explore cooperation on co-branded super-fast charging stations, the companies said.
“Through our strategic collaboration with XPENG, we will form one of the largest Super Fast Charging Networks in China, enabling people to seamlessly integrate e-mobility into their daily lives not only in the metropolises but also in remote cities,” said Olaf Korzinovski, executive vice president of Volkswagen Group China.
Charging points are becoming a key battleground in the electric vehicle space because they provide the necessary infrastructure that allows people to drive further in battery-powered cars if they need to recharge. Tesla has also been expanding its Supercharger network in China.
According to the repport, Volkswagen has ramped up its focus on China. In 2023, it invested around $700 million in Xpeng, taking a 4.99% stake in the firm. The German automaker is aiming to offer at least 30 fully electric models across its brands in China by 2030.
Xpeng and Volkswagen are also looking to jointly develop two electric cars for delivery in China in 2026.
