Regulation of Digital Platforms in Brazil: The Impacts of Bill 4675/2025
The digital economy and the role of technology platforms.
The digital economy has consolidated a new model for organizing markets, in which technological platforms have come to play a central role in mediating economic, social, and commercial relationships. Companies operating in this environment work simultaneously in multiple sectors—such as e-commerce, advertising, operating systems, social networks, payment methods, and logistics—forming integrated ecosystems that are highly dependent on data, scale, and network effects.
PL 4675/2025 and the regulation of competition in digital markets.
It is within this context that Bill No. 4675/2025 is situated, proposing significant changes to the Brazilian competition defense system by updating Law No. 12.529/2011 and expanding CADE's powers to deal more directly and in a specialized manner with digital markets.
The proposal stems from a diagnosis already consolidated globally: the digital economy, while promoting innovation, efficiency, and convenience, also tends toward the concentration of economic power in platforms capable of simultaneously influencing diverse markets. In this sense, the project represents an important shift in regulatory approach, allowing CADE (Brazil's antitrust authority) to act not only repressively, after the consolidation of anti-competitive conduct, but also preventively, through the identification of systemically relevant agents and the early imposition of obligations.
Superintendency of Digital Markets and Regulatory Oversight
One of the main institutional innovations is the creation of the Superintendency of Digital Markets within CADE (Brazil's antitrust authority). This structure will be responsible for continuously monitoring the activities of agents operating in digital markets, requesting information, initiating administrative proceedings, overseeing compliance with obligations, and proposing measures to the CADE Tribunal, which will make the final decision. In practice, this inaugurates a model of permanent supervision, closer to sectoral regulation, directed at companies whose activities have a structural impact on the functioning of digital markets.
Agents of systemic relevance on digital platforms
For companies, the most significant change lies in the possibility of being formally designated as systemically relevant economic agents. This classification could apply to economic groups with global annual gross revenue exceeding R$ 50 billion or revenue in Brazil exceeding R$ 5 billion, provided they exhibit characteristics such as operating in multi-sided markets, a strong network effect, vertical integration, presence in adjacent markets, significant access to data, and a strategic position for third-party businesses. This classification could last for up to ten years, with the possibility of renewal, and once applied, it projects effects across the entire economic group.
Transparency obligations on digital platforms
This designation is not merely declaratory. It acts as a trigger for the imposition of specific and individualized obligations that can directly impact the business model of platforms. Among these obligations, the significant increase in transparency duties stands out, including the need for clear and accessible disclosure of terms of use, technical criteria, data collection and processing policies, pricing structure, and especially, ranking and display criteria for content, offers, or search results. For algorithm-based companies—such as social networks, marketplaces, and content platforms—this point is particularly sensitive, as it directly affects the logic of how their services operate.
Interoperability, data portability, and technological openness.
Another relevant aspect of the project is the provision for positive duties of technological openness and adaptation. Designated companies may be required to offer data portability mechanisms, ensure interoperability with third-party services, allow the use and installation of external applications, provide access to performance metrics and data relevant to business and professional users, and guarantee equal access to their infrastructure. These obligations, while aligned with a logic of promoting competition, may require structural changes in systems, interfaces, technological architecture, and internal governance policies.
Operational and technological impacts on digital platforms
One of the most significant points, from a practical perspective, is that such obligations can be implemented not only through contractual adjustments, but also through concrete modifications in the functioning of digital products and services. This includes changes in terms of use, changes in operational flows and, in certain cases, redesign of functionalities and user experiences. In this sense, the proposed regulation is not limited to the legal-formal level, directly impacting the design and operation of the platforms.
From a business perspective, the effects of Bill 4675/2025 are not uniform. For large digital platforms, especially those with a structural position in the market, the bill represents increased supervision, restrictions on certain commercial strategies, greater exposure to administrative processes, and the need for operational and technological adaptation. On the other hand, for smaller companies, platform users, and new entrants, the proposal may mean increased access, reduced competitive barriers, and greater predictability in relationships with dominant players.
Trends in the regulation of digital platforms in Brazil
Bill No. 4675/2025 is still subject to debate and possible adjustments during its passage through the National Congress, which may impact relevant aspects of its wording and practical application. Even so, the direction is clear: the Brazilian regulatory environment is moving towards a model in which digital platforms are treated as agents with responsibilities proportional to their degree of economic and structural influence on the market.
The changes don't stop at the decision-making phase. The project foresees a continuous compliance structure. Companies subject to special obligations will have to submit compliance reports to the Superintendency of Digital Markets, detailing their fulfillment of the determinations, at the frequency established by the administrative process. CADE (the Brazilian antitrust authority) may also require, at the company's expense, [further information/information].,
Article written by: Leonardo Neri and Nicoly Crepaldi.
REFERENCES: https://br-mm.com/eca-digital-adultizacao-infantil-lei-15211-25/
BRAZIL. Chamber of Deputies. Bill No. 4,675 of 2025. Amends Law No. 12,529 of November 30, 2011, and provides for the designation of systemically relevant economic agents in digital markets and the determination of special obligations. Brasília, DF: Chamber of Deputies, 2025. Available at: https://www.camara.leg.br/proposicoesWeb/fichadetramitacao?idProposicao=2562481. Accessed on: March 30, 2026
BRAZIL. Ministry of Finance. Federal Government sends to the Chamber of Deputies a bill for competitive regulation of big tech companies. Brasília, DF: Ministry of Finance, 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.br/fazenda/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2025/setembro/governo-federal-envia-a-camara-dos-deputados-projeto-para-regulacao-concorrencial-das-big-techs. Accessed on: March 30, 2026.
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