Health Fake News in the Covid-19 Pandemic in Brazil

Abstract

Digital technologies are revamping the world, creating opportunities to increase social well-being while generating challenges associated with sustainable development. The growing popularity of social media, along with the dissemination of information, has led to the emergence of fake news. The misinformation linked to the Covid-19 pandemic has been prolific and a major barrier to dealing with this crisis. In this sense, this study aims to address the underlying challenges and opportunities associated with digital technologies initiatives implemented in Brazil to deal with the spread of health fake news during the Covid-19 pandemic. By analyzing a single longitudinal case study, we investigate how digital technologies were used by government, media groups and civil society to articulate common interests and enforce fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression in a digitally connected society.