Fake News: risco para a democracia digital nas eleições presidenciais em 2022

Eliana Maria de Souza Franco Teixeira; Rafaela Silva Brito

doi:10.23925/ddem.v.3.n.15.72867

Authors

Eliana Maria de Souza Franco Teixeira Universidade Federal do Pará - UFPA - Belém do Pará, PA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7979-2404
Rafaela Silva Brito Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales - UCES - Buenos Aires, AR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9315-185X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/ddem.v.3.n.15.72867

Keywords:

Fake news; Digital democracy; 2022 elections; Disinformation; Social media.

Abstract

The article presents a critical analysis of the challenges faced by digital democracy during the 2022 Brazilian presidential elections, with emphasis on the increasing circulation of fake news and its negative impact on the democratic process. The central aim of the research is to explain the dangerous relationship between the spread of false information in the electoral context and the fragility of digital democracy, particularly in a scenario heavily influenced by social media. To this end, the study is grounded in a solid theoretical framework, addressing key concepts related to democracy, digital communication, and misinformation. Furthermore, it seeks to describe the main challenges of digital democracy in the era of hyperconnectivity, investigating how fake news influenced public opinion formation and affected voter behavior. The research employed the hypothetical-deductive method alongside thematic bibliographic analysis, drawing on books, academic articles, and specialized journals, enabling a critical reflection on the topic. The findings revealed that Brazilian digital democracy still lacks effective mechanisms to protect against disinformation, highlighting the need to develop strategies both individually and collectively to combat this phenomenon. The study concludes that the spread of fake news poses a serious risk to the consolidation of digital democracy, as it undermines the conscious and informed participation of citizens-an essential element in building a democratic and pluralistic society. Thus, the research emphasizes the urgency of public policies and educational initiatives aimed at strengthening verified information and critical thinking in the digital environment.

Author Biographies

Eliana Maria de Souza Franco Teixeira, Universidade Federal do Pará - UFPA - Belém do Pará, PA

Doctor of Law from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA - 2014). Holds a Bachelor's degree (1997) and a Master's degree in Law from the University of the Amazon (UNAMA - 2001). Currently, she is a professor in the Academic Postgraduate Program in Law (PPGD/ICJ/UFPA) and the Professional Master's Program in Law and Development in the Amazon (PPGDDA/ICJ/UFPA). She teaches undergraduate law courses related to Social Rights, with a focus on Social Security Law. She served as Vice-Coordinator of the Law Course at the University of the Amazon (2003-2010), Teaching Coordinator of FAD/ICJ/UFPA, Coordinator of Teaching, Research and Extension at the Institute of Legal Sciences (UFPA), and Vice-Director of the Faculty of Law at ICJ/UFPA, in addition to being a member of the Faculty of Law Council, to which she was elected for the 2025-2027 term (ICJ/UFPA), a member of the Congregation of ICJ/UFPA, and an alternate member of the Higher Council for Teaching, Research and Extension and the University Council of the Federal University of Pará (2023-2025). She was a Professor in the Professional Master's Program in Public Management at the Center for Advanced Amazonian Studies (2019-2022). She is a Judicial Mediator appointed by the Court of Justice of the State of Pará, working at the 7th CEJUSC, in the Guamá Peace Center. She is the coordinator of the Public Policies, Democracy and Constitutionalism Research Group, linked to CNPq, which works with researchers from Latin America to reflect on constitutionalism in Latin America.

Rafaela Silva Brito, Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales - UCES - Buenos Aires, AR

aPhD candidate in Constitutional Law at the University of Buenos Aires - UBA. Lawyer, political scientist, researcher, lecturer, and professor active in Legislative Process, International and Environmental Law, and International Relations. Master's degree in Legislative Power from the Training and Development Center (CEFOR) of the Chamber of Deputies. Master's degree in Environmental Studies from the "Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales"-UCES, in Buenos Aires, with a diploma recognized by the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG). Specialist in International Relations from Ibmec and the Damásio de Jesus Law School. Member of the "Instituto de Ciências Jurídicas y Políticas- InCJyP (UCES)". Lecturer, with experience and studies conducted at universities in Germany, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Panama, and the United Kingdom. Vice-President of IEDF (Brazilian Institute of Education in Rights and Fraternity), 2020/2026. Professor of the Integral Ecology and Territorial Management Course, tutor of the Community Leadership Course and the Interculturality Course at the Sophia Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean (Sophia Alc). Volunteer at the Institute for Migration and Human Rights (IMDH). Facilitator and Mentor at the Global Political School: One Humanity, One Planet. Moderator and presenter of the "IEDF Debate" program. Global Ambassador for Uninter (Global Student Ambassadors), 2020/2021, mentored by Jason Dyett (Founding Executive Director of the Harvard University office in Brazil between 2006-2016).

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