Social media in the spotlight in Brazil presidential race

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 07, 2018 people watch Brazilian presidential candidate for the Worky Party (PT) Fernando Haddad's press conference on TV at a bar of Lapa neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. - Brazil, like other countries, is facing a very electronic election. WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter are the weapons of choice to sway the country's 147 million voters -- and abuse of social media has been widespread. (Photo by Fernando Souza / AFP)

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil, like other countries, is facing a very electronic election. WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter are the weapons of choice to sway the country’s 147 million voters – and abuse of social media has been widespread. 

Facebook and its WhatsApp messenger service – hugely popular in the Latin American nation – have been thrust into the spotlight for being used to traffick in disinformation.