Digital Disinformation and Electoral Law: Challenges and Solutions to Strengthen the Legitimacy of Elections

Abstract

The research analyzes how disinformation spreads rapidly on social media during Brazilian elections,

affecting voters’ trust and intensifying polarization. Algorithms that prioritize content confirming pre-

existing beliefs create “information bubbles,” expanding the reach of fake news and undermining the

integrity of the electoral process. The study aims to understand how digital disinformation challenges

the legitimacy of the electoral process in Brazil and, based on this analysis, to suggest

recommendations that strengthen democracy. A qualitative approach was used, based on a systematic

literature review and an interpretive analysis of emblematic cases of false-news propagation. This

methodology made it possible to identify dissemination mechanisms and the impacts of digital-

manipulation strategies. The combination of automated accounts (bots) and human operators (trolls)

creates the appearance of spontaneous engagement but, in reality, promotes the amplification of

distorted narratives. Furthermore, the Brazilian electoral legal framework proves to be outdated in the

face of technological innovations, revealing a lack of real-time auditing and transparency in the

circulation of information, especially within private communication channels. To restore the

credibility of electoral contests, the study proposes updating the regulation of digital platforms with

continuous audits and graduated sanctions, implementing media literacy campaigns, and strengthening

cooperation among the Judiciary, electoral authorities, and civil society.