O ACESSO À INTERNET COMO INSTRUMENTO DE PROMOÇÃO DO RECONHECIMENTO E DA PARTICIPAÇÃO DEMOCRÁTICA DOS POVOS INDÍGENAS

Abstract

The internet allows an indeterminate number of users to communicate online. This creates new boundaries and limits to fundamental rights. The growing use of the internet by Indigenous peoples and communities demands reflection on the use of new technologies to promote their recognition and cultural diversity, taking into account the risks posed by this medium, such as hate speech, fake news, opinion bubbles, surveillance, and digital exclusion. This study sought to answer the question of how internet access can serve as an instrument for promoting recognition and democratic participation among Indigenous peoples. Finally, alternatives were suggested to prevent cultural assimilation movements against these peoples. The study was divided into three parts: (i) The Digital Age: New Rights and New Forms of Democratic Participation; (ii) Social Media: New Forms of Democratic Participation, Risks to Democracy, and the Need for Regulation; and (iii) Recognition, Diversity, and Indigenous Peoples: Possible Advances and Setbacks in Universalizing Internet Access. The methodology used deductive, inductive, and dialectical reasoning, opting for qualitative and propositional research. The conclusion reached is that universalizing the internet could represent an important step forward for the recognition and democratic participation of Indigenous peoples. However, awareness-raising and digital education measures should be adopted, along with a potential new regulatory framework that includes effective Indigenous participation, while observing the obligation to consult with interested peoples and communities in advance.