From Polarisation to Autocratisation: The Role of Information Pollution in Brazil’s Democratic Erosion

The study "From polaristaion to autocratisation: the role of information pollution in Brazil's democratic erosion" explores the complex relationship between information pollution, polarisation, and democracy in Brazil, a country that has recently experienced both democratic erosion and a pivotal democratic “U-turn”.

Information pollution – the dissemination of false, misleading or harmful information – has become a global challenge, undermining societal peace and democratic stability. In Brazil, these dynamics have been particularly pronounced. The socioeconomic and social context highlights how in Brazil, persisting poverty and inequalities and the digital divide restrict access to diverse information sources, leaving marginalised groups disproportionately vulnerable to disinformation and hate speech.

The characteristics of the Brazilian media landscape and information ecosystem further fuelled these dynamics. Highly concentrated media ownership and declining traditional journalism have undermined information diversity and opinion plurality. At the same time, digital platforms - were outdated legislation has left significant gaps in the oversight - have become fertile ground for the spread of polarising narratives, driven by the rise of politainment and political messaging disguised as religious truth by influential evangelical leaders.