iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 15h

Brazil heads to the polls on Sunday amid a corruption scandal, polarization and hate online, and with AI and prediction markets factoring deeply into discussions! 🇧🇷 We consolidated months of research and observations into 10 answers to key questions you're likely to hear. ddia.org/en/ten-quest...

ddia.org

Ten Questions and (Easy-to-Digest) Answers About the 2026 Brazilian Elections

DDIA answers ten questions about the 2026 Brazilian elections.

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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Brazil has suspended Discord's livestreaming feature in the first enforcement test of its child protection law, the ECA Digital, reports Tech Policy Press fellow Tatiana Dias.

techpolicy.press

Brazil Suspends Discord's Livestreams in First Enforcement Test of Child Protection Law

After a teenager's death, Brazil is testing its new child online safety law, reports Tech Policy Press fellow Tatiana Dias.

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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced four bills Wednesday aimed at protecting children online, including the latest version of the Kids Online Safety Act, reports Yuqing Liu for Tech Policy Press.

techpolicy.press

Senate Committee Advances Four Bills Aimed at Protecting Children Online

The latest version of the Kids Online Safety Act was among the bills to advance, reports Yuqing Liu.

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Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

NEW: I dug into the court documents in the case of Andrea Shaw, the Idaho mother charged with killing her toddlers. Shaw insists they died following a set of vaccinations. I looked at how the anti-vaccine movement insinuated itself into this case and her life. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

She's charged with killing her twins. The anti-vaccine movement made her a martyr.

Andrea Shaw is charged with suffocating her toddlers. Children's Health Defense says it was the vaccines.

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Craig Silverman @craigsilverman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Excited to be part of this!

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

We’re hiring at the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA)! Come work with me. Apply here: ddia.org/en/careers

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Today is the last day to apply for LMDP’s Fall training series! The program is open to Latino journalists, content creators, media professionals, and civil society leaders. Twenty participants will be selected for this cohort. More below! ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026.2

ddia.org

Latinos, Media, and Democracy Program (LMDP) 2026 - The AI Edition | Fall Cohort

DDIA’s Latinos, Media, and Democracy Program (LMDP) 2026 - The AI Edition | Fall Cohort is an 8-week capacity-building program designed to support Latino journalists, content creators, media professio...

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

One week after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela (on June 24), Spanish-language social media has coalesced around three dominant narratives: rescue stories, fierce political debate over the country’s preparedness, and updates on international humanitarian efforts…

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

The Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA) recently opened the call for applications for our Fall 8-week AI and counter-misinformation training program for Latino trusted messengers: www.ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026.2 Candidates can submit their applications below by July 5!

ddia.org

Latinos, Media, and Democracy Program (LMDP) 2026 - The AI Edition | Fall Cohort

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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Tech Policy Press fellow Tatiana Dias, covers the rise of “Dona Maria,” an AI-generated political influencer created by a Brazilian Uber driver that is reaching millions online, highlighting the challenge deepfakes and synthetic content pose ahead of the 2026 election.

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Brazil's 2026 Elections Are Its First Real Stress Test for AI Regulation

Tatiana Dias reports on “Dona Maria,” an AI-generated political influencer, exposing Brazil’s struggle to regulate deepfakes ahead of the 2026 election.

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Will Oremus @willoremus.com · 16/05/2026

My first story for @theatlantic.com is about how ed tech slop is taking over American classrooms. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

theatlantic.com

My Son’s Math Homework Is Essentially Just Pokémon

Education games are taking over American classrooms.

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Meet the 20 participants selected for our LMDP program for this Spring! Over 8 weeks, they will participate in briefings / workshops on: - Latino media consumption + voting - AI prompt engineering, content analysis, verification - AI ethics, bias mitigation, data privacy ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026

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David Pierce @davidpierce.xyz · 15/03/2026

New Version History! The weird, wild story of Clubhouse, with @caseynewton.bsky.social and @ashleycarman.bsky.social 📺: youtu.be/8xmixsUdO4Q 🎧: www.theverge.com/podcast/8950...

youtu.be

The fast rise and epic fall of Clubhouse

YouTube video by Version History

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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

The is the federal government telling news stations to provide favorable coverage of the war or their licenses will be pulled. A truly extraordinary moment. We aren't on the verge of a totalitarian takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. Act like it.

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Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Iran? Spreading disinformation and war propaganda? No!! AI content...manipulating the discourse..on X??!!! FAKE NEWS MEDIA amplifying it on social media? Surely a Community Note will fix that... (in 14 hours) If only we had, idk, agencies & partnerships & verification tools for such things.

President Donald Trump accused Iran of using Al-generated disinformation and media manipulation to spread false claims about attacks on US military assets. Trump said reports of damaged US refuelling planes and a burning USS Abraham Lincoln were fabricated, asserting that Iran's military narrative is being amplified by what he called "fake news" media outlets. He also suggested that some media
organisations spreading such reports should face serious legal scrutiny
#UnitedStates #DonaldTrump #Iran #aircrafts #damage
Donald J. Trump ®
@realDonald Trump Iran has long been known as a Master of Media Manipulation and Public Relations. They are Militarily ineffective and weak, but are really good at "feeding" the very appreciative Fake News Media false information. Now, A.I. has become another Disinformation weapon that Iran uses, quite well, considering they are being annihilated by the day. They showed phony "Kamikaze Boats," shooting at various Ships at Sea, which looks wonderful, powerful, and vicious, but these Boats don't exist — It's all false information to show how "tough" their already defeated Military is! The five U.S. Refueling Planes that were supposedly struck down and badly damaged, according to The Wall Street Journal's false reporting, and others, are all in service, with the exception of one, which will soon be flying the skies. Buildings and Ships that are shown to be on fire are not — It's FAKE NEWS, generated by A.I. For instance, Iran, working in close coordination with the Fake News Media, shows our great USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier, one of the largest and most prestigious Ships in the World, burning uncontrollably in the Ocean. Not only was it not burning, it was not even shot at — Iran knows better than to do that! The story was knowingly FAKE and, in a certain way, you can say that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information! The fact is, Iran is being deci…

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Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

These are the stories media needs to be covering. Every time an infant dies of a refusal, tell the story. Use those words. The NYT has some of the most abysmal, sympathetic coverage of the AV movement because it can’t bring itself to offend, so we get writing implying we don’t know why it’s grown🤷🏻‍♀️

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Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

John Oliver on right wing grifter, "brain" behind the "censorship industrial complex" and USAID destroyer, Mike Benz: "a chronically online lunatic" www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU8S...

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Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Since we got “Iran interfered in the election!” as a justification for war, have Maduro sitting in jail, and Tulsi was snuffling around Georgia looking for “evidence” of god knows what—here are the Chinese, Vezuelan, Italian, Iranian, etc conspiracy theories liars in power are dredging back up. 📡💻🗳️

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

LAST DAY to APPLY! Applications for the 8-week LMDP 2026 training series are due tonight at 11:59 pm ET. If you’re a Latino journalist, content creator, or civil society leader, submit yours at the link below. ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026 Application form: airtable.com/appYPuncHIMK...

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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

The Pentagon wants AI that can fight wars without limits. Anthropic says there are lines it won't cross. And this week, that standoff turned into an all-out confrontation. To unpack the news, I spoke to Kat Duffy from the Council on Foreign Relations and Amos Toh from the Brennan Center:

techpolicy.press

How to Think About the Anthropic-Pentagon Dispute

A conversation with Kat Duffy from the Council on Foreign Relations and Amos Toh from the Brennan Center for Justice.

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

I can't fucking believe we're doing this again.

This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism vs. No It Won’t

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Last week to apply! If you are a Latino journalist, content creator, or civil society leader interested in harnessing AI tools for investigations, content creation, etc., apply for 1 of 20 spots in this year's LMDP cohort. Applications due Sunday, March 1! Learn more / apply: ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026

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Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 16/02/2026

Want to investigate something using open sources but not sure where to start? 🧵 We’ve gathered some of our go-to resources for learning, practicing, and collaborating on open source research - whether you’re brand new or sharpening your skills...

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Apply for LMDP 2026! airtable.com/appYPuncHIMK... Are you a Latino journalist, creator, or civil society leader interested in learning how to harness AI tools for content analysis, deep search, verification, investigations, and content creation, while focusing on bias mitigation?

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Apply by March 1, 2026! ddia.org/en/LMDP-2026 Applications are open for LMDP 2026 - The AI Edition, an 8-week series of workshops designed to support Latino journalists, content creators, media professionals, and civil society leaders with 1-5 years of experience. 20 will be selected.

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

The killing of Alex Pretti by ICE in MN became the week’s dominant Spanish-lang topic, w/ most Latinos seeing this as the outright murder of a humanitarian defending migrants. Latino influencers like Carlos Eduardo Espina + outlets EL PAÍS stood out. www.ddia.org/en/get-invol...

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Today, DDIA releases the final chapter in a series of investigations into how scammers exploit Spanish-language public WhatsApp groups with promises of easy wealth, “guaranteed” returns, and risk-free investments for Latinos.

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Since the U.S.’s extraction and arrest of Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026, an ongoing debate has unfolded in English and Spanish in the spaces where there are few “editors,” no algorithmic feed, and no single narrative in control – on WhatsApp and Telegram public groups. ddia.org/en/tracking-...

ddia.org

Tracking the Venezuela Conversation in U.S. and Venezuela WhatsApp and Telegram Groups Over the Course of 72 Hours

This article examines how discussions about Nicolás Maduro’s arrest evolved over 72 hours on WhatsApp and Telegram in the United States and Venezuela. Analyzing English- and Spanish-language messages,...

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Free Press @freepress.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

“Messaging apps are early accelerators of narratives. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram rapidly host competing narratives, often before traditional news outlets or fact checkers can contextualize events.” - @bragaroberta.bsky.social, DDIA’s founder and executive director

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Free Press @freepress.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

At least 13,000 unique messages referencing Venezuela were shared across 1,600 WhatsApp and Telegram public groups, reaching tens of millions of English and Spanish users. ‪ @bragaroberta.bsky.social is on the latest edition of Pressing Issues: READ: pressingissues.org/the-polarizi...

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I spoke with @nytimes.com about what the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas has been tracking online and in messaging apps in English and Spanish since around 2 am on Saturday, Jan. 3. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/t...

nytimes.com

A.I. Images of Maduro Spread Rapidly, Despite Safeguards

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

A quick list of must-knows about the events in Venezuela since 2 am this morning. ddia.org/en/venezuela...

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Nora Benavidez @attorneynora.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Breaking & rapid news events always bring mis- & disinformation. Lies are easy to believe, spread, reinforce. Check out @bragaroberta.bsky.social and the DDIA rapid analysis on Maduro's troubling capture by the US: ddia.org/en/maduro-ar...

ddia.org

Maduro Arrested, Power Shifts, and Messaging Apps Explode

This analysis examines how the U.S. arrest of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, triggered a surge of activity on WhatsApp and Telegram. In the first few hours following the events, DDIA t...

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 12/12/2025

It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted

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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

My early look at what's different in the final version of Trump's AI executive order to limit state regulation of AI vs. the draft that was circulated last month. www.techpolicy.press/trump-signs-...

techpolicy.press

Trump Signs Executive Order To Combat State AI Regulation | TechPolicy.Press

Trump says his administration "must act with the Congress to ensure that there is a minimally burdensome national standard — not 50 discordant State ones."

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

NEW!! DDIA today releases part 2 of an investigation into how scammers target Latinos on WhatsApp. Here we focus on legal + employment scams: ➡️ Suspicious “legal consultants” ➡️ Fake remote “job offers” ➡️ Dubious rentals and health insurance ➡️ False “victim” stories www.ddia.org/en/whatsapp-...

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Nora Benavidez @attorneynora.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This year, I set out to chronicle free speech under the Trump admin. No small feat. Trump attacks dissent & leverages the White House to go after critics constantly. But how? Read our bombshell new @freepress.bsky.social report. I'm proud & horrified: www.freepress.net/attack-on-fr...

freepress.net

Chokehold: Donald Trump’s War on Free Speech & the Need for Systemic Resistance

This Free Press report examines the Trump administration’s hostile relationship with dissent and free expression in 2025. It analyzes how Trump and his political enablers have sought to undermine and ...

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Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

A cool thing about the DSA is that it requires platforms to share data with researchers so you can study their failures. And if you don't then they charge you lots of money

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Daphne Keller @daphnek.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Don't let anyone tell you that the Commission's DSA enforcement against X is about speech or censorship. That would, indeed, be interesting. But this is just the EU enforcing some normal, boring laws that would get bipartisan support in the U.S. (I bet similar bills *have* had that support.) 1/

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Our team at DDIA is monitoring how the most viral conversations about U.S. escalations with Venezuela are taking shape in English vs. Spanish on social media. As always, we also have insights on public WhatsApp groups. Toplines below. Full analysis here. mailchi.mp/ddia/welcome...

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

On #GivingTuesday, help us shape a better digital future for Latinos! Our team is uncovering English- and Spanish-language narrative trends, exposing illicit influence networks targeting Latinos, and deep diving into how our communities engage information ecosystems. donorbox.org/ddia-anniver...

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Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies @sdg16.plus · 17/09/2025

💪 @bragaroberta.bsky.social, founder & ED of the DDIA, shares lessons learned, including: 1️⃣ We need to respect people’s intelligence. 2️⃣ People value evidence and informational, empowering content. 3️⃣ Local connections are important. 4️⃣ Integrating joy and entertainment into content.

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

We’re heading to New Orleans! DDIA will join #nn25 to talk about resilience against manipulation online. Don’t miss our session: “Beat the Lies Before They Spread: Prebunking to Counter Disinformation” - join us on Sat., Aug. 9 - 3:15 PM www.netrootsnation.org/agenda/ @netrootsnation.bsky.social

netrootsnation.org

NN25 Agenda – Netroots Nation

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Trump moves against Brazil this week illustrate what happens when ideologues gain power. This is policy done through the 5 Ds of disinformation - dismiss, distort, distract, dismay, divide. Brazil has never been a national security threat to the United States. www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...

whitehouse.gov

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses Threats to the United States from the Government of Brazil

ADDRESSING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order implementing an additional 40% tariff on Brazil, bringing the

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Roberta Braga @bragaroberta.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Thank you to @mantzarlis.com and @craigsilverman.bsky.social for covering our latest DDIA research on X's Community Notes in @Indicator.Media, one of my favorite newsletters out there. indicator.media/p/briefing-g... READ THE REPORT: lnkd.in/ebB8C_5B WATCH THE BRIEFING: ddia.org/en/new-repor...

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