A web of lies amidst the chaos
the impact of misinformation on the floods in Rio Grande do Sul - Brasil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12662/2447-6641oj.v24i45.6239.pe6239.2026Keywords:
disinformation, freedom of expression, socio-environmental risk management, disasters, multi-platformAbstract
Contextualization: A study on the phenomenon of misinformation in the context of a disaster such as the floods in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), which occurred between April and May 2024, and how this issue was able to affect crisis management, amplifying risks and hindering assistance to victims.
Objective: To analyze how misinformation spread across multiple platforms harmed the mitigation phase within the theory of Socioenvironmental Risk Management and, consequently, the assistance provided to victims of the floods that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul.
Methodology: The methodological approach adopted was the complex systemic method, as it allows for the analysis of the interdependence of factors at the origin of the misinformation problem and how this can exacerbate the negative consequences of disasters.
Results: The dissemination of truthful information by safe and reliable sources plays a crucial role during disasters, as well as in restoring citizens’ trust in governmental institutions. This research found that there is state negligence regarding all stages of the Socioenvironmental Risk Management Cycle, especially the mitigation stage, precisely because high-quality, life-saving information never reaches the population in a timely manner.
Conclusion: It was concluded that there is a need to effectively regulate and oversee the use of multiple platforms in order to prevent the spread of misinformation, combined with the re-education of users regarding the limits of their right to freedom of expression.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Francielle Benini Agne Tybusch, Nicoli Pereira Loureiro
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