Roberta Braga
@bragaroberta.bsky.social
Founder and ED @ Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA) — DDIA.org
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.
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.
February 5, 2026 at 6:32 PM
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.
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.
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...
January 28, 2026 at 7:52 PM
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...
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.
January 20, 2026 at 11:14 PM
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.
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-...
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,...
ddia.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:39 PM
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-...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
“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
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 PM
“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
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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...
@bragaroberta.bsky.social is on the latest edition of Pressing Issues:
READ: pressingissues.org/the-polarizi...
January 7, 2026 at 5:43 PM
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...
@bragaroberta.bsky.social is on the latest edition of Pressing Issues:
READ: pressingissues.org/the-polarizi...
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...
A.I. Images of Maduro Spread Rapidly, Despite Safeguards
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
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...
A quick list of must-knows about the events in Venezuela since 2 am this morning. ddia.org/en/venezuela...
January 3, 2026 at 11:10 PM
A quick list of must-knows about the events in Venezuela since 2 am this morning. ddia.org/en/venezuela...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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...
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...
ddia.org
January 3, 2026 at 8:41 PM
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...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
Honored Free Press Action endorses the LISTOS Act, @lujan.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov @hirono.senate.gov @wyden.senate.gov. Read about the bill's aim to improve AI, LLM & content moderation practices to better protect non-English speaking communities online: www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Luján Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Multilingual Content Moderation Enforcement and Transparency - Senator Ben Ray Luján
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, led U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif),...
www.lujan.senate.gov
December 19, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Honored Free Press Action endorses the LISTOS Act, @lujan.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov @hirono.senate.gov @wyden.senate.gov. Read about the bill's aim to improve AI, LLM & content moderation practices to better protect non-English speaking communities online: www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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
December 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
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
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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-...
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."
www.techpolicy.press
December 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
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-...
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-...
➡️ Suspicious “legal consultants”
➡️ Fake remote “job offers”
➡️ Dubious rentals and health insurance
➡️ False “victim” stories
www.ddia.org/en/whatsapp-...
December 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
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-...
➡️ Suspicious “legal consultants”
➡️ Fake remote “job offers”
➡️ Dubious rentals and health insurance
➡️ False “victim” stories
www.ddia.org/en/whatsapp-...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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...
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 ...
www.freepress.net
December 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
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...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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
And here it is: the EU’s first big fine against X under the Digital Services Act www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/t...
Elon Musk’s X Hit With $140 Million Fine in Europe
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
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
Reposted by Roberta Braga
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/
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/
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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/
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/
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...
December 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
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...
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...
December 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
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...
Reposted by Roberta Braga
💪 @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.
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.
September 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
💪 @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.
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.
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
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
NN25 Agenda – Netroots Nation
www.netrootsnation.org
August 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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
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
Reposted by Roberta Braga
Good to see Democrats in the U.S. Congress coming out in support of EU tech regulation – in this instance the DSA – and refuting the Republicans' (poorly-evidenced) claims about nefarious "foreign censorship".
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
July 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Good to see Democrats in the U.S. Congress coming out in support of EU tech regulation – in this instance the DSA – and refuting the Republicans' (poorly-evidenced) claims about nefarious "foreign censorship".
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
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/...
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
www.whitehouse.gov
July 30, 2025 at 7:33 PM
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/...
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...
READ THE REPORT: lnkd.in/ebB8C_5B
WATCH THE BRIEFING: ddia.org/en/new-repor...
July 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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...
READ THE REPORT: lnkd.in/ebB8C_5B
WATCH THE BRIEFING: ddia.org/en/new-repor...
Briefing tomorrow, July 9, 2 p.m. ET! We analyzed the public Community Notes dataset published by X b/w 2021 & 2025 to offer understanding of what could be improved and the potential of community-driven moderation to improve the health of social media. Join us! us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: DDIA Briefing: A Deep Dive into X's Community Notes Contributions in English and Spanish Between 2021 and 2025. After registering, you will receive a confir...
As social media companies tackle the spread of rapidly-evolving online harms on their platforms, “community moderation” has emerged as a popular experiment for addressing false, misleading or “confusi...
us02web.zoom.us
July 8, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Briefing tomorrow, July 9, 2 p.m. ET! We analyzed the public Community Notes dataset published by X b/w 2021 & 2025 to offer understanding of what could be improved and the potential of community-driven moderation to improve the health of social media. Join us! us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
JOIN US! July 9, 2 pm ET! DDIA downloaded + studied over 1.7 million Community Notes submitted on X b/w 2021 & 2025 in English & Spanish. We’ll share what is working + what could be improved as more social media companies take on community-driven moderation. RSVP: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
June 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
JOIN US! July 9, 2 pm ET! DDIA downloaded + studied over 1.7 million Community Notes submitted on X b/w 2021 & 2025 in English & Spanish. We’ll share what is working + what could be improved as more social media companies take on community-driven moderation. RSVP: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...