WBO discusses the role of major digital platforms in elections
Press release WBO August 30th 2022
Experts draw parallels between the US and Brazil cases
Debate will be open for virtual participation, with simultaneous translation
The role of digital platforms in elections will be the next topic in the series of debates called Dialogues for Democracy, promoted by the WBO (Washington Brazil Office) this September 1st at 7 pm EST (8 pm Brasilia time). The event is free and open to the public through the WBO's YouTube channel, with simultaneous English-Portuguese translation.
Three speakers will participate: Kristina Wilfore, a media, communication and political disinformation specialist at George Washington University; Debs Delbart, member of the election-related programs team at Meta/Facebook; and João Brant, general coordinator of Desinformante, a group that analyzes and discusses the effect of disinformation on politics and democracy. The event will be introduced by Paulo Abrão, executive director of the WBO, and moderated by the president of Geledés - Instituto da Mulher Negra, Maria Sylvia de Oliveira.
“The social networks of the major technological platforms emerged with the promise of expanding the political debate in the world and deepening democracy, giving voice to groups and individuals without access to traditional means of communication, always concentrated in the hands of a few groups. We have seen, however, how populist leaders, particularly on the far right, have used these channels to promote messages of hate and disinformation”
Paulo Abrão, executive director of the WBO, who will give the introductory speech to the event.
The series Dialogues for Democracy discusses topics of relevance to democracy and the Brazilian electoral process, with the participation of Brazilian and foreign scholars and activists. All previous editions are available on the WBO's YouTube channel.
The WBO is an independent and non-partisan think tank that specializes in promoting cooperation and knowledge about the Brazilian reality and offering support to the international work of civil society, social movements and other sectors of Brazil in Washington, in defense of democracy, human rights, the environment and freedoms.
