Hit by Social Media: The Impacts of the Disinformation Industry on Brazilian Consumers
- erickdau
- Jun 10
- 2 min read
Editora Sulina
This book is the result of research conducted by the Observatory of the Disinformation Industry and its Impact on Consumer Relations in Brazil, an initiative of NetLab/UFRJ in partnership with the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon/MJSP) and supported by the Diffuse Rights Fund. The work investigates how the business model of digital platforms—supported by programmatic advertising, mass data collection, and artificial intelligence—has been exploited to spread financial fraud, disinformation, and manipulation of public opinion in Brazil. Analyzing everything from the lack of transparency in ad placement to the use of deepfakes in scams, the book reveals how the deregulation of this market directly affects consumers, eroding trust in institutions and compromising the population's digital security.
Through a rigorous analysis of platform infrastructure, the political economy of digital advertising, and microtargeting practices, the chapters provide unprecedented data on the impacts of this ecosystem on Brazilian society. The book also presents transparency indicators, case studies on fraud associated with government programs, and reflections on the urgent need for regulation. It offers not only a detailed diagnosis of risks but also insights for formulating public policies capable of protecting consumers, strengthening digital governance, and addressing the challenges posed by the disinformation economy.
The Observatory of the Disinformation Industry and its Impact on Consumer Relations in Brazil was established in December 2023. Its objective is to inform public consumer protection policies by analyzing the infrastructure, political economy, and disinformation strategies on digital platforms. The project develops transparency indicators, investigates fraudulent advertisements, and creates databases on deceptive online practices, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with disinformation in the Brazilian digital environment and provide evidence-based support for actions that can expand consumer protection.
