2024 was a foundational year for the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas. On behalf of the entire team, Roberta Braga, DDIA Executive Director, lays out some of our most noteworthy deliverables.

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.

As we wrap up the 12th month of the year, the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas is recapping 12 key questions we sought to answer in 2024.

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.

DDIA’s REDESCover newsletter features emerging narratives and updates about information disorder spreading in Latino spaces online in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

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.

DDIA answers a few frequently asked questions about what we can expect when it comes to Latino voters and disinformation on Election Day. These quick takes are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.