Folha in recent weeks has discussed freedom of expression. It is the rule that sustains the independence of this newspaper, but it is also in its name that our cell phones absorb and dump nonsense, from the silly to the most dangerous. Among the many scars that the coronavirus pandemic will leave, one of the main ones will be the certainty that disinformation is in our midst, with harmful consequences. We learned that a malicious message can, for example, cause the death of many people. We already knew that, of course, but it took a planetary catastrophe to realize how much frivolous acts can reap.

In an internal critique, last Thursday (27), I suggested to the newsroom that it investigate the main propagators of fake news related to childhood vaccination. I was astonished by a news feature on Jornal Nacional that showed city halls in the interior of the country embarrassing parents who took their children to health centers. A few hours later, Folha showed that Minister Damares Alves had endorsed a document from the ministry that attacked the vaccination passport and the mandatory immunization of children. Who needs to go underground when sewage runs out in the open?

Covid has also opened up another obviousness that we often pretend not to understand, out of laziness, ignorance or bad faith, that rulers need to be competent. Hundreds of thousands of dead will weigh on Jair Bolsonaro and his acolytes, as Drauzio Varella wrote, in the next election or after. The check is coming for populists around the world and even for those who apparently did the right thing, let Boris Johnson say. His photo with a birthday cake during the lockdown, a "surprise party" in the blunt explanation of the bricked office, became a joke in British tabloids.

It would be good if such a decantation of facts prevailed, but reality shows the opposite. At the slightest movement, the calm deposit in the background crumbles and returns to muddy the news. Damares is living proof, speaking to her own, even if it later turns into a court nightmare. The stakes of confusion are high.

The dynamics of disinformation, however, is not always so wide-open and demands study. The long-awaited Brazilian electoral process is this year's great laboratory, attracting the attention of experts, platforms and regulators from around the world. What happens here can be repeated anywhere, because a connected planet is more than a cliché.

Cristina Tardáguila, founder of Agência Lupa and director of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), lists some observations that will likely happen in the coming months. The first is whether the axis of disinformation leaves the US and goes to Brazil or whether Portuguese will remain as a barrier to the country's international insertion. The language will also test the readiness of the platforms, which primarily control content in English.

Another important follow-up is the solution to be found for social networks without representation in Brazil, such as Telegram, which is at risk of being banned by the TSE. "The problem is that there are so many other networks in a similar situation, one worse than the other in terms of moderation."

Big platforms will be under close scrutiny. "The main difficulty here is that politicians cannot be vetted and are only punished if they are flagrantly violating the networks' internal rules or electoral legislation. Companies promise control, but what control?"

An example is the Twitter anti-fake button, in the testing phase in Brazil. Lawyers consulted by Folha fear orchestrated actions against content from opponents in the elections. On the other side of the rope, organized groups denouncing anti-vaccination movements are already complaining that the device doesn't work, as they haven't noticed anyone being taken down despite their efforts.

The thing is complicated and will not end with the opening of the polls. "In the weekly meetings of the working group set up by the TSE, one of the most frequently asked questions to platforms is what they will do if a candidate does not accept the election result. . There are still no clear processes," says Cristina.

Until then, Folha and the press in general will have to work hard, check facts and avoid slips like the headline on the front page last weekend: "Hydroxychloroquine is effective, and the vaccine is not, says the ministry." In the fight against fake news, reminds a reader, statements need to be direct. And critics like this option: "The Ministry of Health contradicts science and says that the vaccine does not work".

Sounds like drying ice, but the day will come when it will be like the weather forecast, like look at the lies that might pop up on your phone today. It is not fiction, there are already attempts.

José Henrique Mariante
Trained as an engineer and journalist, Mariante has been a reporter, correspondent, editor and editorial secretary at Folha, where he has worked since 1991. He is the ombudsman.

_{Translated by Kiratiana Freelon}