---
title: Marco Civil da Internet (Internet Bill of Rights)
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/polis/brazil__marco-civil-da-internet-internet-bill-of-rights"
hub: polis
summary: "The world's first comprehensive internet governance law (2014) — codifying net neutrality, privacy, and freedom of expression — became a model for digital rights legislation globally"
---

# Marco Civil da Internet (Internet Bill of Rights)

The world's first comprehensive internet governance law (2014) — codifying net neutrality, privacy, and freedom of expression — became a model for digital rights legislation globally
- Technology Readiness Level: 9/9
- Impact: 3/5
- Investment: 2/5
Passed in 2014 after extensive public consultation (including online crowdsourcing of the draft), the Marco Civil established three pillars: net neutrality, user privacy, and freedom of expression online. It was the first national law to codify internet governance principles in a comprehensive framework.

The law influenced Brazil's hosting of NETmundial (2014), a global multistakeholder meeting on internet governance that produced principles adopted by 97 countries. The Marco Civil's approach — treating internet access as a civil right and mandating net neutrality — preceded similar efforts in the EU and was more comprehensive than the US FCC's net neutrality rules.

Brazil followed the Marco Civil with the LGPD (General Data Protection Law, 2020), modeled on GDPR, and is now developing AI regulation. The country has positioned itself as a governance innovator — setting rules for digital spaces before most Western countries addressed the issues.

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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/polis/brazil__marco-civil-da-internet-internet-bill-of-rights)