As Lupa, Brazil’s first organization dedicated to combating disinformation, nears its 10th anniversary, founder Cristina Tardáguila reflects on the need for a reset in the fight against falsehoods. She critiques the overuse and dilution of terms like "fake news" and calls for innovation beyond traditional fact-checking and media literacy strategies. To remain effective in 2025, Tardáguila advocates for a cultural shift in the disinformation field, deeper research, audience engagement through polling, and the integration of behavioral science. By embracing these changes, the fight against disinformation can evolve and reclaim its impact.

WhatsApp remains a vital communication platform for U.S.-based Latinos, with 54% of Latino adults using the app in 2024, up from 46% in 2021. However, its widespread use has also made it a conduit for disinformation. Research by DDIA and Palver revealed over 3,200 misleading messages, primarily election-related, circulating in Latino-led public groups. Topics ranged from political misinformation about figures like Joe Biden to global events like the war in Gaza, often leveraging emotional language and sensational imagery. Despite challenges in content moderation due to WhatsApp’s encryption, researchers are spotlighting vulnerabilities in Spanish-language media and advocating for stronger fact-checking efforts.

Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. face unique vulnerabilities to election misinformation, often targeted with culturally specific falsehoods that exploit socio-political experiences. Platforms like WhatsApp, widely used by Latinos, struggle with content moderation, allowing misinformation to spread unchecked in private groups. False narratives, such as linking Democratic candidates to Latin American authoritarian figures, resonate with distinct communities and sow distrust in democratic processes. Combating this requires culturally informed, well-resourced efforts, including improved Spanish-language content moderation by social media platforms, partnerships with local Spanish-language media, and voter education initiatives tailored to the diverse Latino community.

Durante la Jornada Electoral llevada a cabo por Factchequeado el pasado 5 de noviembre, El Instituto Democracia Digital de las Américas (DDIA) compartió las principales desinformaciones en español en grupos latinos de WhatsApp durante las elecciones de EE.UU. de 2024. Estas incluyen: afirmaciones de fraude electoral en el condado de Cambria, Pennsylvania, debido a fallos en máquinas de votación; especulaciones de una victoria de Trump en Florida basadas en datos selectivos; y contenido extremista que ataca a Kamala Harris y busca crear divisiones mediante temas como Gaza, respaldado por medios iraníes.

In Episode 1 of the newly launched Cinco Preguntas con María Elena Salinas podcast, the renowned journalist speaks with Paola Ramos, author of "Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America," about critical issues around Latino identity, political power, and disinformation around the 2024 U.S. elections. Ramos references DDIA's recent polling on Latinos and disinformation.

Este artículo analiza las principales desinformaciones dirigidas a la comunidad latina en Estados Unidos antes de las elecciones y que a pesar de estas campañas, el votante latino ha mostrado mayor escepticismo y preparación para identificar noticias falsas, en parte gracias al surgimiento de organizaciones de verificación y a la barrera idiomática que dificulta la difusión de la desinformación. Además, el artículo destaca que la economía es un tema central para esta comunidad en el contexto electoral.

Claims of undocumented voting and electoral fraud target Latino voters, but a more informed, skeptical community is harder to mislead. False messages like “Biden opened borders for votes” circulate, yet language barriers reduce misinformation’s impact. Economic concerns remain a focal point for disinformation efforts this election.

As November 5 approaches, anti-immigrant rhetoric and disinformation campaigns pushing false election fraud allegations are surging, including in Latino spaces online. One week out from Election Day, Roberta Braga, Founder and Executive Director of the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas, joined CBS Mornings live in New York City to discuss how voters can prepare and what we can expect pre- and post-election.