A survey identified 70 profiles and websites that disseminate misinformation and false news in the Legal Amazon. The survey by Coletivo Intervozes and partner entities analyzed 200 pages in seven states: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Roraima, Mato Grosso and Tocantins. The pages were separated between right-wing organizations and activists, public political figures and journalistic channels. The researchers investigated three sites that present themselves as journalistic. According to the study, these sites only disclose information that favors a certain party or candidate. The politicians who had the most visibility are allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Misinformation increased in the 2022 elections, strongly associated with political polarization. The alleged news manipulates information, according to Intervozes member Raquel Baster. “They build texts that are usually sensationalist, conspiratorial, especially in relation to the Amazon rainforest. They construct texts with manipulated data. They can take half a text with information that is correct and mix it with data they fabricated. Or they make a mixture of data, bringing confusion to the understanding of those who read these texts”. To combat disinformation, the researchers recommend strengthening cooperation between states, private agents and society to find regulatory mechanisms. They defend the Fake News Bill, which is in Congress. In addition, critical education policies for internet use from childhood.
Agência Brasil
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