In a message read by a minister in Portugal, Lula says that networks have made society vulnerable to disinformation | Policy

President Lula stated in a message read in Portugal by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, that the influence of social networks has made society vulnerable to disinformation and manipulation and placed the democracy of both countries “at risk”.

The message was read by Vieira during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, a mobilization that united society and part of the military and led to the fall of the dictatorship in Portugal in the 1970s. Lula was invited to participate in the event, but sent Vieira as representative.

When sending the message to the country, Lula stated that Portugal has stood out as an example of “stability and commitment to dialogue and cooperation”, maintaining a “firm commitment” to international law and defending a peaceful solution to disputes. Then, Lula amended:

“Within our countries, the growing influence of social media has made our societies vulnerable to disinformation and manipulation campaigns, which delegitimize politics and collective action and put democracy itself at risk.”

In the message, Lula also says that “increasing inequality creates a caste of a few extremely powerful people who can employ their vast resources to destabilize governments.” He did not mention anyone specifically, but last week he responded in public speeches to billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social network X. Musk attacked Brazilian legal measures that blocked X accounts that spread false information and anti-democratic messages.

Still in the message read by Mauro Vieira, Lula said, without citing a specific example, that the Carnation Revolution inspired Brazilian citizens to fight for democracy, civility and human dignity. “This fight is not over,” he said.

Throughout 2024, Brazil presides over the G20, a group that brings together the world’s main economies, in addition to the European Union, the African Union and some invited countries.

One of the topics that the Lula government wants to discuss in G20 discussions is the regulation of digital platforms.

The objective, according to diplomats interviewed by GloboNews, is to propose measures that, at a global level, can preserve the integrity of information disseminated among populations, combating so-called “fake news”.

According to the G20, the group understands that the integrity of information – which encompasses accuracy, consistency and reliability – is threatened by “fake news” and hate speech, especially in digital media.

Also according to the G20, a survey by the United Nations indicates that around 60% of internet users in the world are concerned about misinformation on platforms.