Citation

Using Misinformation as a political weapon: COVID-19 and Bolsonaro in Brazil

Author:
Ricard, Julie; Medeiros, Juliano
Publication:
Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review
Year:
2020

With over 30,000 confirmed cases -as of April 16th- Brazil is currently the country most affected by COVID-19 in Latin America, and ranked 12th worldwide. Despite all evidence, a strong rhetoric undermining risks associated to COVID-19 has been endorsed at the highest levels of the Brazilian government, making President Jair Bolsonaro the leader of the “coronavirus-denial movement”. To support this strategy, different forms of misinformation and disinformation have been leveraged to lead a dangerous crusade against scientific and evidence-based recommendations.