Digital threats
Brazil

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.

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.

Specifically, we’re writing to show our support for 110+ Brazilian civil society organisations, and ask that you respond to the policy recommendations made in the report The Role Of Digital Platforms In Protecting Electoral Integrity In The 2022 Brazilian Election.
Listening to local stakeholders is essential, and we stand by the policy recommendations that our Brazilian partners have made to you to help secure this critical election.

They have made 38 policy recommendations across five main categories to ensure you adequately protect individual and collective rights and to protect electoral integrity, encompassing: policies to combat political violence against women, black people, Indigenous people, traditional populations, quilombolas 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.

Listening to local stakeholders is essential, and we stand by the policy recommendations that our Brazilian partners have made to you to help secure this critical election.

We’ve already seen evidence of people on social media attempting to discredit the electoral process, and threats of violence in this election cycle against candidates, particularly Indigenous peoples and women. It’s critical to the health of our democracy, our society, and our environment that you act as soon as you can.

We’re looking forward to your response.

Signatories

  • Africa Sans Haine
  • Citizen D / Državljan D
  • Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa
  • Defend Democracy
  • Demos
  • EIHR: The Educators’ Institute for Human Rights
  • Fair Vote UK
  • Foxglove
  • Free Rohingya Coalition
  • Global Project Against Hate and Extremism 
  • Global Witness
  • Greek Helsinki Monitor
  • Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)
  • LOVE-Storm
  • Media Institute of Southern Africa
  • Media Monitoring Africa
  • ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association
  • Paradigm Initiative 
  • Simply Secure
  • SMEX (Social Media Exchange) 
  • SumOfUs
  • The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)
  • The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)
  • The Signals Network
  • #jesuislà
  • #ShePersisted

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