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
Data from 2026 indicate that becoming a victim of an online scam — that is, losing money over the internet or through a mobile phone — is among Brazilians’ main concerns, surpassing worries associated with urban violence. Electronic fraud already surpasses robbery in the number of reported cases in Brazil and finds its main channel for reaching victims on social media platforms. The Pix Scams study, conducted by cybersecurity company Silverguard, found that 79% of reported fi
Generative artificial intelligence has made it easier to produce and disseminate non-consensual intimate images, exacerbating sexual violence against women due to the low cost, widespread availability of these tools, and the ease with which images can be distributed across digital platforms. In recent years, NetLab UFRJ has identified the promotion of fraudulent and abusive advertisements on social media platforms, which profit from their distribution and expand their reach t
Fraudulent advertisements can be understood as a disinformation strategy based on paid content and social engineering techniques to generate revenue, causing financial and reputational harm to users. On social media, this type of advertising often relies on sensationalist language, promises of unrealistic results, prices or discounts far below market value, and AI-manipulated images. Scammers also create fake profiles that imitate official pages or pose as qualified professio
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
