The terrorist attacks that took place in Brasilia on Sunday (1/8) were carried out with the support of social networks. The call for the attack was made via WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
In view of this, Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, said this Monday (1/9) that it has decided to remove all “content that supports or praises the actions [bolsonaristas/criminosas]”We are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to remove content that violates our policies,” the company said in an official statement.
But it is to anticipate this type of reaction that far-right users are opting for services that are not based in Brazil. Much of Sunday’s action was planned in Telegram groups, which set dates, times and routes for the caravans to arrive for the attack. In one of the leaked printouts, a financier even claimed they needed “2 million people in Brasilia.”
TikTok is another resource that has come under fire, as it has become the focus of reports of alleged voter fraud, which did not occur in any of the Brazilian polls.
Influencers denying the country’s presidential election results have used a specific phrase to call out ‘patriots’ for vandalism, calling them to ‘Festa da Selma’ – changing the word ‘jungle’, a military term for a rallying cry, into the hope of avoiding detection by the Brazilian authorities.
Extremism on the networks is so brutal that, on Telegram, a video calling on patriots to kill the children of leftists in the country went viral.
The cases are questioning the very algorithms of the networks. In an effort to increase engagement, they prioritize controversial issues and continue to direct users to groups that question the integrity of the election and call for a military coup.
Meta is apparently aware of the problem.
“Ahead of the elections, we consider Brazil a temporary high-risk location and have removed content that encourages the use of weapons or the invasion of Congress, the Presidential Palace and other federal buildings,” the platform said.
Twitter, however, goes in the opposite direction. Elon Musk, its new owner, even claimed he was sensitized by extremists to believe that “the people of Twitter have given preference to leftist candidates.”
To make matters worse, the US newspaper The Washington Post discovered that it had fired the few people responsible for moderating the social network’s content in Brazil after Sunday’s terrorist attacks. Exame magazine confirmed at least 10 layoffs this Monday (9/1).
Despite this, Justice continues to remove profiles from the platform, which has been denounced for spreading conspiracy theories and fomenting a coup in the country.
The networks have also helped spread a counter-narrative, which accuses the Lula government and PT members of infiltrating “peaceful demonstrations” to cause the destruction seen on Sunday and turn the country against Bolsonaro supporters.
The Washington Post saw parallels in this initiative with the January 6, 2021 uprising in the United States, “when many Trump supporters blamed leftist activists for the violence.”
The difference in Brazil is that the terrorists filmed themselves committing barbaric acts and posted them on their social networks, clearly demonstrating what they did. One of these self-proclaimed “patriots” even defecated on one of the country’s symbols.
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Source: Terra
Amanda Larkin is a celebrity journalist at Gossipify, known for her in-depth interviews and unique perspectives on the entertainment industry. She covers celebrity news and gossip, providing readers with engaging and informative content, and understanding of the inner workings of the industry. She’s respected for keeping readers up to date with the latest trends and providing a fresh perspective on the celebrity world.
