NetLab UFRJ is a research laboratory ininternet and social networks dedicated to diagnosing the phenomenon of digital disinformation and its social consequences in Brazil.
Folha de S. Paulo - February 6, 2026 Civil society organizations, political parties, and government bodies have pointed out to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) what they see as gaps in the regulation of the use of artificial intelligence in this year’s elections and in the actions of influencers. They submitted recommendations for the TSE’s campaign advertising resolution, which will be published—incorporating the suggestions that are accepted—by March 5. Folha had access t
The Social Media Data Transparency Index is an initiative of NetLab UFRJ, developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge, which systematically and complexly assesses the level of data access offered by large digital platforms. The research analyzes 15 platforms in three different regulatory contexts—European Union, United Kingdom, and Brazil—comparing environments with different levels of regulation. The index measures access to two central types of data: user-gene
With the rapid development of digital technologies, preserving the integrity of information in the online environment is a growing challenge. This is particularly challenging in election campaigns: between one election and another, numerous technologies and techniques are developed and refined, and if misused, they have the power to substantially impact public opinion. New problems compound those already existent, expanding their potential for harm beyond the reach of existin
This report is one of the partial results of the project “Impacts of the Digital Disinformation Industry on the Health of the Brazilian Population”, developed by NetLab UFRJ with support from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) . The main objective of the project is to provide inputs for understanding the ecosystem of fraudulent health advertising, in order to inform public debate and guide strategies to confront health disinformation in
The study “Learn How to Avoid This Type of Woman: Discursive Strategies and the Monetization of Misogyny on YouTube,” developed by NetLab UFRJ, was cited by Mariana Valente, Director of InternetLab, during the public hearing “Misogyny Online: Digital Radicalization and the Spread of Hatred Against Women.” While addressing the challenges posed by digital platforms in amplifying misogynistic discourse, the researcher highlighted evidence produced by NetLab UFRJ regarding the ci
Last Monday (June 1), researcher and General Coordinator of the Internet and Social Media Studies Laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (NetLab UFRJ), Débora Salles, took part in the Public Hearing on Social Communication in the 2026 General Elections, organized by the Social Communication Council of the National Congress in Brasília. During her participation, Salles presented data from the research study "Electoral Integrity and Failures in the Governance of
Photo: Nádia Nicolau Last Friday (May 29), researchers from the Internet and Social Media Studies Laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (NetLab UFRJ), Marie Santini and Luciane Belin, delivered the lecture "New Technologies, Old Forms of Violence: Challenges in the Debate on Online Misogyny" at the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly (ALESP), opening the program of the Women in Struggle Festival (Festival Mulheres em Luta). The event brought together dozens
