• Research Associate

Beatriz Farrugia

Beatriz Farrugia is a research associate for Brazil at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).

Farrugia is a data journalist specialized in investigations.  Her research interests include hate speech, political polarization, diplomacy, and large-scale sports events. She is the author of the book 1950: The Cost of a World Cup, an investigation into the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. 

Farrugia was a lecturer at Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) and Universidade Metodista, in Brazil, and University of Derby in the United Kingdom. Prior to that, she worked as an international reporter and editor at the Italian news agency ANSA.

Farrugia is a graduate of Birmingham City University with a master’s degree in data journalism and of the Fundação Getúlio Vargas with a master’s degree in international relations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Universidade Metodista.

February 2024

Pro-Russia network spreads propaganda and disinfo in Latin America

by Beatriz Farrugia

Multi-platform operation amplifying Kremlin-aligned narratives published content in Portuguese and Spanish
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January 2024

Pro-Bolsonaro social media accounts target Brazilian Supreme Court justice

by Beatriz Farrugia, Esteban Ponce de León

Accounts advocating for the impeachment of Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso sought to delegitimize the Brazilian judiciary system
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September 2023

BRICS narratives critical of US influence spread in Brazil prior to summit

by Beatriz Farrugia

Discussion on social media platforms focused on de-dollarization and waning US influence
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