Distinguishing Voices from Noise: Reflections on the 2024 Elections

The 2024 municipal elections in Brazil represented a new chapter in the country's online political communication. Despite concerns that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could pose significant risks to information integrity, what became more evident was the continued spread of disinformation, hate speech, and hostility toward traditional institutions, which persistently gain ground in online spaces. Many countries around the world are facing challenges that put democracies at risk. If democracy is no longer valued as something to be protected, what could take its place? How important is it to consider the role of social media in electoral and political outcomes? And what lessons can these elections offer to address future challenges?
The event, organized by Democracy Reporting International (DRI), in partnership with FGV Comunicação Rio, FGV Direito Rio, and Agência Lupa, under the Media and Democracy project, with support from the European Union, brought together experts who closely followed the 2024 elections and the dynamics of social media in Brazil. The discussion addressed topics such as disinformation, hate speech, and online gender-based violence, the impact of digital platforms on political campaigns and strategies, and the challenges and perspectives these dynamics pose for democracies.