O IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) temporarily suspended field activities in the rural area of Baron of Cotegipein Rio Grande do Sul, after servers were the target of hostility last Monday (19). The incident was motivated by the circulation of fake news in WhatsApp groups, which mistakenly associated the institute’s official vehicle with alleged crimes in the region.
Given the hostility suffered by the Erechim Agency team during construction work, registration updateIBGE registered a police report and forwarded the content with the disinformation for investigation.
The institute informed that work will only resume after defining a security plan adequate to ensure that professionals are not exposed to new risks arising from misinformation.
Request for support and identification
To enable the return of activities, the organization evaluates the support of Military Police and the local City Hall. Furthermore, he requested assistance from the Emater/RS-Ascar to disseminate information and combat rumors among rural communities.
The institute highlights that the fake news is already circulating beyond Barão de Cotegipe and reinforces the importance of verifying the veracity of the information. To ensure the safety of both residents and employees, IBGE advises that all its research agents act duly identified with badge.
The identity of interviewers can also be confirmed through verification system official of the institute. In a note, IBGE reiterates its commitment to the safety of its teams and the quality of data collected from the population.
