Bolsonaro’s Coup Attempt: A Battleground Shifting from Courts to the Digital Arena
The upcoming trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for his alleged involvement in a coup attempt following his 2022 electoral defeat marks a critical juncture in Brazilian history. The evidence against Bolsonaro appears substantial, ranging from meetings with military generals under pressure to authorize a coup, an alleged assassination plot against his opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the drafting of a decree to declare a state of defense, which included provisions for arresting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The Federal Police assert Bolsonaro’s direct and effective control over the coup’s execution. Despite the seeming weight of evidence, the decisive arena for this battle lies not within the courtroom, but in the digital sphere.
Bolsonaro’s supporters have successfully constructed a counter-narrative online, portraying him as a victim of political persecution rather than a coup plotter. This narrative alleges a conspiracy involving Lula’s "illegal" release from prison, a "rigged" election, and Moraes’ "censorship." This carefully crafted narrative has taken root within certain online communities, effectively shielding Bolsonaro from accusations and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the legal proceedings against him. This alternative reality presents a significant challenge to the prosecution’s case, as it seeks to undermine the very foundation of truth and fact.
The role of Big Tech in this scenario is not one of active support for Bolsonaro, but rather a passive acquiescence to the spread of disinformation. Social media platforms have become fertile ground for the proliferation of competing narratives, effectively blurring the lines between fact and fiction. This echoes the strategy employed by Donald Trump following his 2020 defeat, which aimed to erode public trust in established facts and promote the idea that only competing narratives exist. This tactic allows unsubstantiated claims to gain traction, creating a climate of uncertainty and distrust that can be exploited for political gain.
This strategy of manipulating public opinion through disinformation has evolved to the point of attacking the very concept of disinformation itself. By discrediting the idea of objective truth, purveyors of false narratives seek to create an environment where any information can be dismissed as biased or politically motivated. This has manifested in attacks on prominent disinformation researchers and organizations. Harvard University’s Joan Donovan, a leading disinformation expert, was allegedly forced out due to pressure from a Facebook executive. Stanford University’s Internet Observatory, another key research center, was shut down. The Election Integrity Partnership was disbanded after facing lawsuits and harassment. In Brazil, NetLab at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro has come under similar fire. These attacks, coupled with efforts to discredit organizations funding journalism and research on disinformation, aim to silence critical voices and create an information vacuum that can be filled with manipulated narratives.
The Supreme Court now faces the daunting task of not only presenting factual evidence of Bolsonaro’s involvement in the coup attempt but also combating the pervasive disinformation campaign that seeks to undermine the very notion of truth. This requires a clear communication strategy that emphasizes concrete evidence and avoids getting bogged down in rhetoric that can be easily manipulated and weaponized online. The Court’s audience now extends beyond Brazil to the international community, particularly the United States, where similar tactics have been employed to sow discord and undermine democratic institutions.
The success of the Supreme Court in holding Bolsonaro accountable will depend not only on the strength of the evidence presented but also on its ability to effectively counter the disinformation campaign and restore public trust in the integrity of the judicial process. The battle against disinformation has become an integral part of the fight to uphold democracy, and the outcome of this case will have profound implications for the future of Brazil and the broader fight against the erosion of truth in the digital age. The challenge is to ensure that facts, not fabricated narratives, prevail.