Fake videos created by artificial intelligence and low-quality information have replaced traditional fake news and have become the main digital threat to elections and democracy. This is the conclusion of the Internet, Democracy, and Elections Guide, published on Tuesday (Sep. 22) by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br).

The guide highlights the abrupt shift between 2018 - the year of the first edition - and the current election cycle. Whereas open networks such as Facebook were the primary channels for dissemination back then, more restricted networks such as WhatsApp are now the main means of dissemination.

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CGI.br experts also noted that disinformation has become increasingly widespread, circulating simultaneously across multiple platforms. “In terms of format, video has become the primary vehicle, almost always accompanied by a short text that anchors and legitimizes the false narrative,” the document states. It is no wonder that institutions such as the World Economic Forum have considered disinformation one of the greatest global risks since 2025.

Given this scenario, the central role of the internet as a medium for information, entertainment, and communication is becoming a more important factor in democratic contests.

Recent tools, such as generative artificial intelligence, emerged during the 2022 election cycle but are expected to have an even greater impact this year when combined with dissemination tools, with more tailored targeting of specific user profiles and more complex narrative structures designed to appear more authentic.

“Today, digital platforms play a central role in how Brazilians stay informed about what is happening in the world, in the country, and in the cities where they live,” says CGI.br coordinator Renata Mielli.

She highlights the responsibility of private companies driven by economic objectives rather than the public interest. “Understanding how these environments function, how content is distributed, and what impact this has on public debate is essential to strengthening the integrity of information and democracy itself. Clarifying these mechanisms is one of the guide’s objectives.”

“Available on the CGI.br website, the publication addresses topics such as how content recommendation systems operate, the impact of generative AI on the electoral landscape, and how advanced tools - such as deepfakes and conversational language models - work.

The guide also includes guidelines for institutional efforts to combat disinformation and advice for citizens on how to avoid becoming victims of or spreading false or misleading content.

In addition to analyzing the structures of media outlets and social networks, the study highlights the role of their communicators - influencers. It acknowledges their prominent role but points to a fundamental difference from journalism: they do not follow a code of ethics, nor are they institutionally accountable for the accuracy of their statements or for inaccuracies - or even deliberate errors - in what they publish.

Warning

According to the study by the CGI.br group, the most frequently cited concern regarding deepfakes is their realism or credibility. As this type of deceptive content has undergone constant refinement, it now has the potential to deceive even voters who are highly experienced in evaluating content.

This type of content can foster widespread distrust of all kinds of information, including truthful information.

“The loss of trust in institutions such as the press and the judiciary, combined with political polarization, also contributes to this scenario, causing personal convictions to take precedence over fact-checking,” the guide warns.

Another problem that arises from this climate of mistrust is that people increasingly consume content that confirms what they already believe. “When they encounter information that contradicts these beliefs, they tend to dismiss it - a phenomenon known as motivated reasoning. In this sense, it can reinforce their ideologies,” the study points out.

Brazilian indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, known as Cacique (chief) Raoni, aged 94, has been diagnosed with cancer of the digestive tract and is receiving palliative care at home in Peixoto de Azevedo, in Mato Grosso state, where he is being cared for by his family and a medical team. The news was released Monday (Sep. 14) by the Raoni Institute on social media.

The statement notes that, throughout 2026, Raoni was hospitalized, underwent medical tests, and experienced a deterioration in his health. In June, he was transferred on an emergency basis to São Paulo after developing a severe intestinal obstruction caused by the tumor. He then underwent a procedure at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) hospital that created a new passage to allow food to pass through and improve his ability to eat and his overall comfort.

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Subsequent tests confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. According to the Raoni Institute, given his age, clinical condition, and the risks associated with more aggressive treatments, the medical teams recommended palliative care.

Palliative care aims to manage pain and other symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life. Care includes medical and nursing assistance, physical therapy, as well as support with nutrition and hydration.

“Care also involves the spiritual dimension. Raoni is a shaman and continues to receive the presence and care of shamans he trusts, as part of an intercultural approach that respects the Mẽbêngôkre culture, his language, his choices, and his spiritual beliefs,” the statement says.

Cacique Raoni is one of Brazil’s leading indigenous leaders and has been advocating for decades on behalf of indigenous peoples, their territories, and the rainforest. His work has gained international recognition for his efforts in defense of the Amazon and indigenous rights.

A joint operation by law enforcement agencies and the Rio de Janeiro city government, targeting scrap yards, aims to reduce copper wire thefts in the city, which have caused more than BRL 69 million in losses to municipal coffers from 2021 to 2025.

The first operation by the Integrated Unit to Combat the Theft and Receiving of Stolen Copper Cables and Wires took place this Wednesday (Sep. 2).

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The Traffic Engineering Company (CET-Rio), responsible for installing traffic signals in the city, reported the theft of nearly 500 kilometers of traffic signal cables in Rio, resulting in losses of BRL 27 million.

RioLuz, responsible for street lighting, suffered losses of BRL 42 million, with more than 1.8 km of copper cables stolen from the power grid.

Public officials visited a neighborhood in the city’s northern zone, where two scrap yards were expropriated. The area will be incorporated into urban planning efforts to support more effective public policies, with a focus on environmental and urban regularization.

The initiative aims to reduce the theft of equipment, such as copper cables used in traffic signals, road signs, streetlights, and the power grid, which results in numerous disruptions across the capital.

“The crackdown also targets those who buy and resell stolen goods, in an effort to dismantle this criminal supply chain,” said Marcus Belchior, the municipal secretary of Public Order.