Fake News about Polls and Ballot Boxes Dominate the Brazil Election
Monitoring of 15,000 WhatsApp groups shows that lies about the Electoral Court trumped the moral themes of 2018
Fake messages regarding ballot boxes and polls, conspiracy theories involving the Supreme Electoral Court, and the rumor that former President Lula would close churches if elected are the main fake news of this campaign, as indicated by the mapping out of 15 thousand public WhatsApp groups.
The result of the survey, carried out by the technology and analysis company Palver, contrasts with the monitoring done in 2018, when lies that linked parties to moral issues (especially those of gender and sexuality) were the main target of misinformation disseminators.
Videos and texts have surpassed images, according to UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), especially with the rise of TikTok and Kwai and with the networks of the ultra-right niche.
Tests with electronic ballot boxes, used since 1996, show that they are safe. Protective barriers and audits ensure the smoothness of the system.
Translated by Cassy Dias