Open Letter Warns Brazil Of 'Disinformation And Threats Of Violence' Ahead Of Presidential Elections

Prominent rights group in an open letter to digital platforms on Wednesday expressed concern about "disinformation and threats of violence" ahead of Brazil's presidential election scheduled in October.

The letter to Meta, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube was signed by a group of researchers, technologists, digital rights defenders, and internet users.

"We write today as a group of researchers, technologists, digital rights defenders, and Internet users concerned about the widespread dissemination of disinformation and threats of violence on your platforms in the leadup to and following Brazil's election on Sunday 2nd October," according to the letter published by Global Witness that supports more than 100 Brazilian civil society groups.

Ahead of what is expected to be a tense election, the signatories urged tougher action by digital platforms.

"It's promising that some of you have announced plans to curb the spread of election-related disinformation already. However, actions speak louder than words. Promises and press statements aren't enough; instead, we need to see real action over the coming months, and we will hold you accountable if that action isn't sufficient," it said.

The signatories are encouraging digital platforms to "respond to the policy recommendations made in the report The Role Of Digital Platforms In Protecting Electoral Integrity In The 2022 Brazilian Election."

A total of 38 recommendations were made to ensure that digital platforms "adequately protect individual and collective rights and to protect electoral integrity."

They want the platforms to "adequately protect individual and collective rights and to protect electoral integrity."

It also encompasses "policies to combat political violence against women, black people, Indigenous people, traditional populations, quilombolas (Afro-Brazilian resident of the quilombo settlements) and LGBTQIA+; policies to combat mis/disinformation affecting the Amazon, the climate, the environment, and the Indigenous and traditional peoples' agenda; rules for guaranteeing users' rights and mitigating damages arising from platform errors of action; transparent and equal ad libraries; and general guidelines on protecting election integrity."

The demand came after President Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva officially kicked off their presidential campaigns Tuesday amid what political observers said is the most polarized elections in decades.

Far-right President Bolsonaro, 67, started his campaign at a rally in Juiz de Fora, a small city in the southeast where he was stabbed in 2018.

Bolsonaro's campaign has focused on what he has called the "good" versus "evil" narrative, as well as Christianity and family values.

Lula, a left-wing candidate, and former two-time president, began his push by visiting a car factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paulo state's industrial heartlands, where he began his political ascent as a union leader.

Lula took the opportunity to denounce Bolsonaro's "lies" and condemn his

handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The election will be the first since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019 as fears persist of potential political violence if the results are contested. -