Internet is new battleground in Brazil presidential poll

[Judi Lynn]

Internet is new battleground in Brazil presidential poll
by Anella Reta Anella Reta – 19 mins ago

SAO PAULO (AFP) – Supporters of Brazil?s presidential run-off candidates are plugging into the Internet as never before, using online posts to highlight the campaigns -- and to spread or deny rumors swaying voters. The web has become a battleground where those backing frontrunner Dilma Rousseff, the ruling party candidate, and those behind former Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra, are locked in a war of words, photos and videos.

The two candidates seeking to succeed outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sunday's run-off are being buffeted by the electronic war, sometimes losing total control as information -- true or false -- goes viral.

Pollyana Ferrari, a digital journalism professor at the Catholic University of Sao Paulo, said Rousseff and Serra are not "Web 2.0 candidates" using the Internet to interact directly with voters but more "Web 1.0 types" who are keen to try new techniques.

Thus their campaigns had to react not only to a daily email onslaught from "trolls" seeking to spark controversy with misleading texts or faked videos, but also a public that was taking up campaign themes to create their own participative dialogue.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101028/tc_afp/brazilvoteinternet