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From Code to Court: the Impact of Brazil’s Digital Bill of Rights on Tech Lawsuits

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  • Costa Filho, João Ricardo

Abstract

What was the impact of the Marco Civil da Internet (MCI), Brazil's Digital Bill of Rights enacted in 2014, on the landscape of tech-related lawsuits in the country? Utilizing a synthetic control methodology, we construct a counterfactual scenario to estimate the number of lawsuits that would have occurred in the absence of the MCI. Our findings indicate a statistically significant decrease in the judicialization of internet-related disputes following the law's implementation. This suggests that while the MCI aimed to establish a robust legal framework for internet governance, it concurrently fostered a lesser litigious environment, particularly concerning intermediary liability and content moderation.

Suggested Citation

  • Costa Filho, João Ricardo, 2026. "From Code to Court: the Impact of Brazil’s Digital Bill of Rights on Tech Lawsuits," MPRA Paper 127781, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:127781
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • K19 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Other
    • K20 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - General

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