With a predominantly negative atmosphere, the digital debate about ONGs focuses on stigmas and conspiracy theories against organizations

By: FGV ECMI 

 

• In X, 63% of the publications analyzed on the subject had a negative content, with accusations of corruption and improper associations between the government, ONGs and foreign countries;
• In the debate in favor of ONGs, issues related to entertainment and commitment to the animal cause were more prominent, as were accusations of environmental crimes;
• In the context of the parliamentary debate on the CPI on ONGs, names in favor of the commission had the greatest reach on Facebook, with widespread mobilization of statements by indigenous people against ONGs.

In 2023, the general debate about Non-Governmental Organizations (ONGs), also known as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), focused on a negative agenda full of stigmas about these institutions. On X, for example, 63% of the posts analyzed criticized or attacked ONGs, compared to just 9% of positive posts. On mobile apps, conspiracy theories and attacks on environmental and indigenous ONGs were prevalent. This is shown by a study by FGV Communication Rio, which analyzed the digital debate on this topic on X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram between January 1 and October 2, 2023.

In the specific debate on the ONG CPI, the trend of negative posts about these organizations is even stronger. The most circulated links on Facebook point to this perception, as does the parliamentary debate on the same network and on Instagram. In this sense, the participation of indigenous leaders and personalities in the CPI meetings was widely mobilized as a way of providing legitimacy and authenticity to the criticism of ONGs, including accusations of human trafficking in indigenous communities and claims that the government was benefiting financially from the work of foreign ONGs.

General debate on ONGs

Evolution of the general debate on ONGs on Facebook

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

 

Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• Themes related to civil society organizations mobilized around 124,000 posts on public Facebook pages and groups between January 1 and October 2, 2023. In total, these posts gathered more than 12.5 million interactions. The main peaks of posts occurred on April 27, May 21 and June 30;
• On April 27, a topic linked to entertainment had a wide reach: the initiative to raise money from fans of Big Brother Brasil 23 winner Amanda Meirelles for the ONG linked to social activist Domitilla Barros, aimed at young people in situations of social vulnerability in the city of Recife. The news was released in the midst of the engagement achieved at the end of the program, on the 26th of that month, which generated a peak of 563 posts on the subject;
• The increase in posts on May 21 was due to the articulated dissemination, on pages linked to the right-wing political camp, of accusations involving alleged associations between presenter Luciano Huck's ONG and drug trafficking. The featured posts promote a video by Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) on the subject. There were 438 posts on the day;
• The circulation of content on pages linked to right-wing political groups also led to another spike in posts, now on June 30. On this occasion, excerpts from the 27th session of the CPI on ONGs were used in posts questioning the work of these organizations in the Amazon.

 

Top links about ONGs on Facebook

Período: de 1º de janeiro a 2 de outubro de 2023

Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• The circulation of links about ONGs on Facebook reflected the diversity of the debate on the subject on the network. Posts ranged from celebrity involvement with civil society organizations to animal rescues. The politicization of the discussion was also a relevant element, especially in relation to environmental ONGs working in the Amazon, a topic on which arguments were raised about the supposed corruption of the current government and adherence to alleged "globalism";
• The prominence given to celebrity involvement with ONGs presented different perspectives and interests: both controversies – such as the value of donations and accusations of scams, related to singer Anitta and activist Luisa Mell, respectively – and a debate on the social responsibility of public figures, in the case of presenter Manoel Soares. Rescues by animal ONGs were also in the spotlight, such as the rescue of a jaguar cub after a forest fire, as well as a discussion on the transparency of ONGs in Brazil, in an article by ChildFund Brasil;
• The politicization of the debate was an important and diverse component among the links with the greatest circulation. In this sense, there was a notable prominence of right-wing perspectives, such as news from the hyper-partisan media outlet Jornal da Cidade Online, which suggested that the current government maintains shady relations with non-governmental organizations operating in the Amazon. On the other hand, accusations against the timber company Paper Excellence, which owns hectares in Brazil, gained prominence, as did a complaint from a humanitarian ONG about political arrests in Venezuela.

 

Sentiment analysis on ONGs in X

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Source: X | Prepared by: FGV ECMI

The methodology used consists of a detailed verification of a representative sample of all posts made from January 1, 2023 to October 2, 2023, analyzed qualitatively.

The panoramic view of the sentiments expressed about Non-Governmental Organizations (ONGs) in Brazil indicates that there is a greater tendency for negative sentiments and criticism to be exposed, especially in relation to distrust, discreditability and posts that add to the institutions' bad reputation. However, the weight of negative sentiment directed at the organizations is influenced by the event of the investigation led by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI).

 Negative sentiment reached 63% of the interactions analyzed on social network X, ahead of positive sentiment, which reached 9%, and neutral sentiment, which reached 28% of the data analyzed. The feeling of disappointment stands out among the interactions about ONGs on social network X, since there are internet users who express surprise, ignorance and disappointment at the accusations of fraud and exploitation of indigenous people attributed to the organizations. As well as associations with crimes, there were accusations of links to trafficking, blame for the physical degradation of indigenous populations, such as the humanitarian crisis of the Yanomami peoples, environmental devastation and bio-piracy.

 The negative sentiment (63%) is due to accusations of corruption, misappropriation of funds and mismanagement of resources passed on through donations or by the government to the organizations. There are references to neglect, complaints of omissions in the face of denunciations, allegations that ONGs are governing the Amazon and that they are defending foreign interests. In addition, there are expressions of distrust and a variety of objections, such as the question of undue benefit, with mentions of the financial enrichment of ONG directors, who would be looking after their personal interests. Judgments were also identified stating that those involved "cannot go unpunished".

Among the posts analyzed, ONGs appear to be associated with the habit of hiding or containing "dirt", in the sense of illegalities and inadequacies. The negative sentiment is externalized through derogatory expressions and the use of pejorative adjectives, including: (i) "front ONG", used both in the singular and plural, in general and specifically; (ii) "imperialist ONGs"; (iii) "shelf ONGs"; (iv) "obscure ONGs"; (v) "Trojan horses"; (vi) "parallel state"; (vii) unscrupulous; (viii) pricks; (ix) manipulators, as well as the neologism (xx) "ongueiros" used as an adjective and as a noun to characterize and/or name, with a negative semantic aspect, those who defend the existence and/or permanence of ONGs. There are also references to ONGs "staging", "spying" and "interfering" in government works. The use of irony is present throughout X's publications.

Positive sentiment (9%) is mobilized by mentions of ONGs in the midst of initiatives that involve offering vocational courses, opportunities for access to employment and leisure, and, above all, fundraising campaigns for specific causes, such as aid for refugees and assistance for abandoned animals. The ONG sector focused on animal causes was the niche that most engaged positive sentiments related to institutions in the sector. The use of the generic hashtag #ONG in posts related to accusations of environmental crimes and in opportunity publications also constitutes a positive element among the samples evaluated. The defense that ONGs cannot be generalized by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) circulates on the web, with a specific numerical relevance, since there is a post by Senator Plínio Valério, president of the CPI, who states that there are good ONGs that do commendable work, a post replicated by some internet users. In addition, President Lula's meeting with the lead singer of the English band Coldplay, Chris Martin, and with representatives of the ONG Global Citizen, engaged positive sentiment in favor of the organizations.

Neutral sentiment (28%) is characterized by mentions of ONGs and the ONG CPI, without taking a polarized position (for or against/positive or negative) and by the mere act of reporting facts that have occurred or are in progress. In this context, publications from press channels circulate containing information that cannot be classified directly into any of the poles, as there are no express judgments or biased evaluations. There are shares of posts by internet users who just pass on news links without making any personal pronouncements on the issue. Therefore, the neutral sentiment is identified through posts that contain purely informative content, especially with regard to the developments of the CPI on ONGs in Brazil.

Key terms about ONGs in X 

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

 

Source: X | Prepared by: FGV ECMI

• An analysis of the most recurrent phrases in the debate on ONGs on X shows how the ONG CPI in the Chamber of Deputies was a relevant part of this discussion. The nominal reference to the "ONG CPI" was registered 239,000 times in the 744,830 posts about ONGs on the platform. In addition, related actors and episodes are also highlighted in the cloud;
• In this sense, messages in favor of the investigation are highlighted and names like "Plínio Valério" and "Aldo Rebelo" are frequently mentioned. Senator Varelo (PMDB-AM) is the author of the original request to create the CPI, when he was a member of parliament in 2019, and former minister Rabelo (PDT), when testifying at the CPI, accused ONGs working in the Amazon rainforest of constituting a "parallel state";
• While the CPI is the main political episode in this debate and drives cross-cutting mentions of other issues, separate events are also highlighted throughout the year. Among the 24,000 mentions of the "evangelical ONG", the dissemination of complaints about the alleged embezzlement of "872 million" destined for the health of the Yanomami peoples during Jair Bolsonaro's government, a case reported by the press as involving an evangelical ONG associated with former minister Damares Alves, stands out;
• In a new example of the association between ONGs and allegations involving public resources, users critical of the organizations' work in the environmental area are sharing disinformative content about the alleged embezzlement of "33 million" from the indigenist ONG Associação Yanomami Urihi, pejoratively described as "close to the PT" and the "ONG that denounced malnutrition" of Yanomamis;
• In the same vein, and under the leadership of the same political camp, environmental institutions are often delegitimized as "international ONGs" or "ONGs that receive" funding from people like George Soros or the Amazon Fund.

Top videos about ONGs on YouTube

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Source: YouTube | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• The featured videos suggest that there is a diverse and plural public interest in the activities of ONGs, ranging from issues of financial transparency to the role of these organizations in sensitive contexts such as indigenous territories and the Amazon. As observed on other platforms, opinions about ONGs vary widely and are often associated with party-political debates;
• Unlike what happened on networks like Facebook and Telegram, where there was a notorious dominance of the far right, the political debate tended to be more balanced on YouTube, with sectors of the left gaining significant prominence on the network. Even so, the argument that ONGs - this time evangelicals - were corrupt was insisted upon, as a result of accusations of alleged embezzlement of funds from the previous government to these religious institutions, to the detriment of the indigenous Yanomami.

Most sent messages about ONGs on WhatsApp

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Number of publications: 7,177 in 418 groups

Source: WhatsApp | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• The messages with the highest number of sends on WhatsApp are direct attacks on the reputation and legitimacy of ONG activities. As on the other platforms, the politicized content of the debate is mainly directed at institutions working on the environmental agenda;
• This is done by making categorical or suggestive statements about behaviors and actions that would attest against the actions of these actors. In the headlines and alleged news links, political links with the current Brazilian government, alleged evidence of obtaining financial benefits and supposed records of the existence of criticism among target populations are highlighted, thus constituting a repertoire of explicit "contradictions" to the sector's flags;
• Three of the 10 most shared messages are different from environmental issues and refer to the area of human rights protection. In this sense, the most frequent message link in the monitored groups emphasizes negative reactions to the supposed initiative of an international organization in defense of trans men and non-binary people. Other links criticize the position of an ONG that "defends thugs" and report alleged rape charges against the president of a human rights ONG.

 

Most shared messages about ONGs on Telegram

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Number of posts: 1,752 in 669 groups and channels

Source: Telegram | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• The messages highlighted on Telegram emphasize a prominent discourse of criminalization of ONGs, with a notable polarization of the debate and the protagonism of perspectives associated with the extreme right. To reinforce the idea that these organizations are criminals, they resort to alleged associations with trafficking in drugs, arms, people and natural resources. In this sense, publications attributed to former president Jair Bolsonaro and family members, such as councillor Flávio Bolsonaro, are mobilized as a way of demonstrating the supposed legitimacy of the information published on the platform;
• In the messages, the idea prevails that ONGs, in general, are linked to the left and, consequently, to the current government, as a way of facilitating corrupt practices. With a conspiracy content, there is talk of alleged articulations of a "globalist socialism", which, in the figure of businessman George Soros, would have allocated R$100 million to far-left ONGs to promote agendas of disarmament, mass disenfranchisement, "gender ideology", legalization of abortion and censorship and persecution of people aligned with conservatism.

 

Examples of messages about ONGs on Mobile Apps

Period: from January 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Fonte: Telegram e WhatsApp | Elaboração: FGV ECMI

Debate on the CPI on ONGs

Evolution of the debate on the ONG CPI in the X

Period: from May 1st to October 2nd

Source: X | Prepared by: FGV ECMI

• There were around 327,600 posts about the ONG CPI between May 1 and October 2, with a predominance of messages in favor of the Commission and expressing a feeling of distrust towards ONGs. The most expressive peaks in the debate are associated with the days of the CPI's meetings in the Senate. The third meeting of the Commission, in which indigenous leaders were heard, represented the biggest peak in the debate, on June 27;
• In general, the posts often use the argument that environmental ONGs are receiving "globalist funds" to facilitate access to illegal natural resources for foreign institutions. This idea is illustrated in a far-reaching publication by Senator Plínio Valério, president of the aforementioned CPI, who said there was a "national war practically lost in the Amazon", in reference to the alleged collusion between ONGs and the government against alleged national interests;
• Under this reasoning, the general idea is that donations to ONGs would represent backwardness for Brazil and a "boycott" of national sovereignty. It is interesting to note the recurrent mobilization of statements by indigenous leaders in the CPI as a way of legitimizing the idea that ONGs are, in fact, corrupt and harmful to society as a whole;
• The progressive camp had a more limited participation in the debate. In this group, the argument that the chairman of the CPI was biased in his choice of witnesses, who would have an anti-ONG perspective due to personal interests, circulated more strongly.

Main links to the debate on the ONG CPI on Facebook

Period: from May 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• The links about the ONG CPI with the highest circulation on Facebook indicate a significant predominance of right-wing hyper-partisan media outlets, which tend to speak out against ONGs in the context of the Commission. The Jornal da Cidade Online, Jovem Pan News, Gazeta do Povo and Revista Oeste portals hold all ten of the links with the most interactions on the network;
• The main thrust of the argument is the current government's supposedly shady relationship with national and foreign ONGs in the Amazon, which act as a "parallel state" in the region and which have received funds that have not been put to good use. An attempt is made to accuse political actors in the government of illegal involvement with environmental ONGs, such as the Minister for the Environment, Marina Silva.

Parliamentary debate on the ONG CPI on Facebook 

Period: from May 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Total publications: 231

 Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

 

• Between May 1 and October 2, 231 publications involving the ONG CPI were registered by active parliamentarians. Names in favor of the Commission played a prominent role in the debate, especially in terms of engagement. Parliamentarians affiliated to the Liberal Party had the greatest reach in the discussion, especially Carla Zambelli, Filipe Barros and Bia Kicis. To a lesser extent, representatives of parties associated with the Center were also expressive in the debate, followed by parliamentarians linked to the government, who registered low involvement in the agenda;

• The weakening of national sovereignty in the face of supposed foreign orders and the increase in actions considered harmful to indigenous peoples are among the arguments most mobilized by opposition parliamentarians against the work of ONGs in the Amazon region. In addition, government institutions such as Ibama and ONGs such as the Socio-Environmental Institute have been accused of promoting false information and diverting funds for environmental causes, such as the Amazon Fund.

Examples of posts by parliamentarians about the ONG CPI on Facebook and Instagram

Period: from May 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Source: Facebook and Instagram | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

As mentioned above, far-right parliamentarians played a leading role in the debate on the CPI on ONGs. The idea that ONGs belong to a political-financial scheme linked to globalism, with references to businessman George Soros, is recurrent. In addition, quotes from indigenous leaders who have testified against ONGs have been widely mobilized to lend legitimacy to the arguments put forward by the Commission's presidency.

Most shared messages about the ONG CPI on Telegram

Period: from May 1st to October 2nd, 2023

Source: Telegram | Elaboration: FGV ECMI

• There are recurring messages on the platform that present accusations of sex trafficking and the trafficking of indigenous children's organs by environmental ONGs. In this sense, a video was prominently broadcast in which indigenous woman Luciene Kujãegese, during a session of the ONG CPI, mentioned alleged cases of this crime in the city of Querência, in Mato Grosso, without presenting any concrete evidence of what was reported;
• Videos of political actors testifying to the CPI, such as the former Minister of Defense in the Bolsonaro government, Aldo Rebelo, and federal deputy Silvia Waiãpi, testifying to the CPI, were also widely circulated. Among Waiãpi's most prominent accusations, for example, was the alleged involvement of the Magalu retail chain in the Yanomami humanitarian crisis;
• In general, the presence of foreign ONGs was classified as a danger to Brazil. For example, a supposed illegal partnership was mentioned between the country, in the form of President Lula, and authorities from Holland and France. The general idea is that ONGs use "hypocritical" discourse to hide exploitative and predatory objectives, which include drug trafficking, human trafficking and "moral degradation".