backMajor video-sharing platforms are sounding the alarm as Brazil’s streaming regulation bill moves to the Senate, fearing that compromises secured in the House of Representatives may be undone. Their main concern is that lawmakers could ignore the fundamental differences between curated video-on-demand services and open platforms where content is uploaded freely. The companies argue that only services with editorial control should be taxed or regulated in the same way, noting that roughly 85% of the audience on sharing platforms already consumes local content, which they say demonstrates their contribution to Brazil’s creative ecosystem.
Even with reservations, the platforms view the House-approved model as relatively balanced, especially the differentiated tax rates—4% for VOD services and 0.8% for sharing platforms. The central debate now shifts to how collected funds will be allocated. The platforms argue that, since they will contribute to the Condecine levy, independent creators should also be allowed to apply for financing from the Audiovisual Sector Fund.
They highlight economic data to bolster their case: YouTube alone generated billions of reais for Brazil’s GDP and supported over 130,000 jobs in 2024, while globally paying more than 100 billion dollars to creators over three years. For the sector, acknowledging creators as legitimate audiovisual producers and giving them access to public funding is not just a policy update but a matter of fairness.
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