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A controversial project presented in the Chamber promises to change the way tech giants operate in Brazil. The proposal establishes a new charge on digital platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok. The collected amount would be dedicated to financing the creation of national satellites, a proprietary GPS system, and even a kind of state “Starlink”
The federal deputy Paulo Guedes (PT-MG) introduced a bill (PLP No. 153/2025) that could profoundly impact the functioning of big techs in Brazil.
The proposal for big techs creates the Social Contribution on the Property of Internet User Interface Systems (CPSI), a new tax aimed at companies like Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and other services operating online.
In contact with Metrópoles, the parliamentarian stated that the measure could raise up to R$ 50 billion per year.
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This amount would be used to finance digital sovereignty projects, such as a proprietary internet addressing system (IP and DNS), low-orbit satellites to provide internet in remote areas, and even a Brazilian alternative to GPS, currently under the control of the United States.
The proposal has not yet begun to move forward in the Chamber, as it awaits dispatch from President Hugo Motta (Republicans–PB).
As the topic of the bill is complex, the website CPG will attempt to clarify as many doubts as possible.
What Is the CPSI and How It Would Work
The big techs project defines “user interface systems on the internet” (SI) as any digital tool that enables communication or information exchange between terminals connected to the network.
This includes search engines like Google, social networks like Instagram, email providers like Gmail, messaging apps like WhatsApp, and even games and streaming platforms.
Article 3 establishes that the charge will fall on the owner, domain holder, or possessor of the SI, meaning the company that controls the service.
The third article of the bill establishes that the charge will fall on the owner, domain holder, or possessor of the interface system — that is, on the company that controls the service. Officially, therefore, the CPSI would not be a fee charged directly to the average user.
In practice, however, it is hard to imagine that platforms do not find ways to pass on this cost.
Whether by raising subscription plans, increasing advertising prices, or reducing free benefits.
The history shows that consumers end up bearing the burden of new taxes, directly or indirectly.
This Leads to a Practical Question
For example, if a user of a large big tech, such as Instagram, is installed on their phone and also accesses the version on their computer, this duplication would be considered twice in the calculation base.
Item I of §1 of Article 3 confirms this interpretation, as it mentions “each app, its copy, or equivalent instrument installed on internet terminals.”
Therefore, the calculation of the charge would be made by multiplying the total number of installations of an app in Brazil by R$ 12.00, with the burden falling on the company owning the platform.
Who Would Be Exempt
The project provides for some exemptions. §1 of Article 6 establishes that contributors with up to 3 million terminals would not pay CPSI. This means that small apps, startups, or smaller national services would be free from the tax.
Furthermore, §6 of Article 6 explicitly excludes systems linked to religious entities, political parties, unions, and public agencies.
In practice, the charge focuses on the so-called big techs, which have hundreds of millions of users in Brazil.
The deputy himself acknowledges this by stating that the collection cap of R$ 3 billion per contributor (also provided for in Article 6) will directly target companies like Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Google (Gmail, YouTube, search engine), TikTok, Amazon, and other digital giants.
Where the Money Goes
Article 7 of the proposal determines the allocation of the collected resources. The total amount should be applied in three main areas:
- Strengthening national digital sovereignty, by creating infrastructure for IP address control, DNS servers, and internet protocols.
- Investments in technology for regional development, especially in poorer areas.
- Universalizing access to high-speed internet, free or at low cost, throughout the country.
Article 8 addresses larger-scale projects. It provides that the Union invest in the creation of Brazilian instruments for assigning internet protocol numbers, which would reduce the country’s dependence on international systems.
Additionally, it plans the construction of a low-orbit satellite network, similar to the Starlink constellation of billionaire Elon Musk.
These satellites would be able to not only transmit fast internet across the national territory but also provide real-time geolocation services, an alternative to American GPS.
The Deputy’s Justifications
In the justification of the project, Paulo Guedes argues that Brazil is in a situation of “digital subordination,” dependent on foreign structures to manage basic elements of the network, such as IP addresses and root servers. For him, this vulnerability represents a geopolitical risk.
“Both GPS and the communication satellites we use are American, under control entirely foreign to us, and can be cut off or have their uses arbitrarily limited due to disputes of any kind at any moment,” said the deputy in an interview with Metrópoles.
He also argues that the new contribution should not directly impact consumers.
According to him, since most digital platforms do not charge directly for their services but generate revenue through advertising or other business models, there would be no space to pass on the tax burden to the end user.
Questions Raised by the Project
Despite the justifications, the legal text opens the door to various technical and practical questions that have not been satisfactorily answered.
Who Pays the Bill?
Article 3, §1, Item I, makes it clear that each installation of the app counts as a link point. This raises the question: if a person has Instagram on their phone and also accesses it on their computer, would Meta have to pay twice? There is no clear definition if this could lead to distortions or double counting of users.
Is the Charge Annual?
In the interview, the deputy clarified that the charge will be annual, always calculated based on the stock of terminals of each service. But the text of the project does not explicitly indicate this periodicity.
Impact on Brazilian Startups
Although there is an exemption for services with up to 3 million terminals, experts point out that rapidly growing startups could exceed this number and become targets of taxation.
This could discourage national innovation, creating a barrier to entry for new entrepreneurs.
Possibility of Pass-Through to Consumer
Although the deputy claims there will be no pass-through, in practice, companies may offset the new expense by raising prices for advertising, premium subscriptions, or reducing investments in the country.
Criterion for Increase in Rate for Data Usage
§5 of Article 6 provides that the rate may be increased by up to 50% if the company uses user data, even with consent.
But the text does not clarify who will decide if there was “appropriation” of data nor what would be the objective criterion for applying this penalty.
Risk of Platforms Blockage
Article 4 authorizes the government to suspend operations in the country in case of non-compliance. Critics warn that this could jeopardize millions of Brazilians who rely on digital services for work, education, and communication.
The Weight of Collection
According to the deputy’s calculations, collection could reach R$ 50 billion annually. The ceiling per contributor, of up to R$ 3 billion per year, would apply to giants like Google, Meta, and TikTok.
To give an idea, only WhatsApp has over 120 million active users in Brazil. If each installation were considered, the amount multiplied by R$ 12.00 would reach billion-dollar figures for Meta.
In the deputy’s view, this design ensures tax justice, as it only taxes companies that concentrate enormous global profits and pay almost no taxes in Brazil.
What Is Next
For now, the project awaits dispatch from the Presidency of the Chamber to begin to move forward. If accepted, it will go through thematic committees, probably on Science and Technology, Communication, and Finance and Taxation, before going to the floor.
The topic promises to generate a great debate among parliamentarians, jurists, technology companies, and civil society.
The Proposal also leaves several open questions: how to avoid duplicate counts, how to prevent indirect pass-throughs to consumers, who will decide on data appropriation, and whether the blockage of platforms in the event of default is truly viable.
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