Registered users and premium subscribers of the Correio da Manhã digital platform are now required to formally accept a new set of conduct rules before they can post comments on news articles. These guidelines establish that users bear sole legal and financial responsibility for the content they publish, while granting the platform a perpetual, irrevocable license to distribute that content across any media format.
Did You Know? The platform automatically hides all reader comments one week after their initial publication, regardless of the content’s popularity or engagement levels.
Enforcement and Legal Liability
Users who post on the platform are legally accountable for any civil or criminal liabilities arising from their comments, including the payment of fines, court costs, and indemnities. According to the published rules, the platform is not obligated to monitor or pre-screen submissions, though the editorial team reserves the right to perform a pre-evaluation. Comments deemed non-compliant with the regulations may be deleted immediately without prior notice or warning to the author.
Restrictions on Content
The platform explicitly prohibits the use of comment sections for commercial advertising, the dissemination of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, or any content intended to humiliate or damage the reputation of third parties. Users are required to ensure their contributions do not violate intellectual property rights or encourage illegal acts. Any violation of these standards may lead to a temporary or permanent ban from the comment section, a policy that applies to all users regardless of their subscription status.
Expert Insight: By requiring users to accept these terms, the platform effectively shifts the burden of legal vetting and liability onto the individual contributor. This creates a clear distinction between the news organization’s editorial content and the user-generated opinions, which the platform maintains do not reflect its own corporate or editorial positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to comment on articles?
Only registered readers and active subscribers of the premium service are permitted to post comments, provided they have explicitly accepted the platform’s rules of conduct.
Does the publisher own the comments I post?
The user retains ownership of their content, but by posting, they grant the platform a free, irrevocable, exclusive, and perpetual license to use and distribute that content in any existing or future media format.
Can my access to the comment section be revoked?
Yes. The platform reserves the right to suspend or permanently ban users for violating conduct rules, and it may remove non-compliant comments at any time without prior notification.
How do you believe these strict moderation policies will impact the quality of public debate in digital news spaces?
