On Thursday, December 7, FGV’s Department of Public Policy Analysis (DAPP) participated in the ‘1^st Internet Elections Seminar’, held by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communication (MCTIC), and the Internet Steering Committee (CGI), in Brasilia. The event discussed the new electoral rules and the Internet’s influence on the 2018 elections, particularly regarding the risk of fake news and bots disseminating information.

Director Marco Aurelio Ruediger participated in the panel ‘Electioneering and Bots’, presenting a recent DAPP research study on how automated accounts interfere at key moments of Brazilian politics. The study ‘Bots, social networks, and politics in Brazil’ found that bots accounted for more than 20% of interactions on Twitter during the general strike in April this year. During the 2014 presidential elections, bots were responsible for more than 10% of the discussions.

“DAPP goal with this study is to warn that we are not immune, and we must strive to understand, filter, and report the use and dissemination of false or manipulative information through this kind of strategy and technology. We must always safeguard all of our democratic venues, including social networks,” said Ruediger.

Three other sessions were also held during the meeting: ‘Fake News, Media, and Elections,’ ‘Campaign funding on the internet,’ and ‘Social networks, identity, and anonymity.’ The opening ceremony was held by the President and Vice President of the TSE, Judges Gilmar Mendes and Luiz Fux, respectively, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Gilberto Kassab.

The seminar is part of the Internet and Elections Forum held by the TSE, the Electoral Judicial School, and Mackenzie University. The event will continue on December 12 and 13 (the last day will feature a workshop with private meetings).