AI‑Generated Fake Videos Surge as Primary Threat to Brazilian Elections

A new guide from Brazil’s Internet Steering Committee (CGI. br) warns that AI‑generated fake videos and low‑quality information have eclipsed traditional fake news as the main digital threat to elections and democracy. The report, released on September 22, notes a sharp shift since 2018: while Facebook was the dominant platform then, WhatsApp now carries most disinformation. Video content, often paired with short text, has become the primary vehicle for false narratives, with deepfakes and conversational language models increasingly sophisticated. The guide also highlights the role of influencers, who lack journalistic accountability, and the growing distrust of institutions that fuels motivated reasoning and polarization. The World Economic Forum has listed disinformation as a top global risk since 2025, underscoring the urgency of understanding how recommendation systems and AI tools shape public debate.