“Online Disinformation and Elections in Brazil,” a study by Fundação Getulio Vargas’ Department of Public Policy Analysis (FGV DAPP), was cited in the preliminary report of the Organization of American States’ Electoral Observation Mission in Brazil, which was published on November. The report, presented by the head of the mission, Ambassador Agustín Espinosa, mentions the growing dissemination of fake news, especially contesting the electoral system, as shown in FGV DAPP’s study.

FGV DAPP had an online meeting with members of the Electoral Observation Mission on Thursday, November 12, to talk about challenges to the integrity of elections in digital environments. As part of cooperation efforts with the multilateral organization, some results of the study were presented, such as growth in the volume and circulation of disinformation about the integrity of the electoral system.

In 2018, FGV DAPP was visited by members of the Organization of American States’ Electoral Observation Mission, then led by ex-president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla Miranda. In its first visit to monitor Brazilian elections, the mission met with FGV DAPP to discuss the role of social networks in the election process that year.

About the study

“Online Disinformation and Elections in Brazil” is the first study in the “Digitalization and Democracy in Brazil” project, carried out with the support of the Germany Embassy in Brasilia. The study was launched jointly by FGV DAPP and the Superior Electoral Court with the aim of improving the quality of debate about disinformation and elections.