In Portugal, Brazilians face an increase in online attacks, with death threats and racist offenses

Online hatred against Brazilians in Portugal “returns to your land”, with a Brazilian portrayed as a monkey; A montage showing what a Portuguese would be running over a crowd of Brazilians: these are just a few examples of a growing trend in Portugal: online hatred against Brazilians. A recent case went viral: a Portuguese offered “500 euros through the head of Brazilians” in the country. And it was after disclosing this case that Brazilian Stefani Costa was the target of a threat on her social networks – also for being a journalist. “After I reported, I entered my social network X and came across the message offering money, a reward, by my head. And he marked my arroba, my name. That is, it was a public threat,” says Stefani Costa, a Brazilian journalist in Lisbon. A survey made by Casa do Brasil de Lisboa shows that the hate speech against Brazilians has been growing in Portugal. And social networks and the internet facilitate the spread of attacks. “If in 2021 it was already a problem, in 2024 we realized that the hate speech against migrant people increased, became more violent, more aggressive,” says Ana Paula Costa, president of the Lisbon House of Brazil. Brazilian portrayed as monkey and the caption: ‘Back to your land “Reproduction/ Social Networks The thing is so serious that the European Commission has asked Portugal to adopt firm measures against online hatred speech, which has immigrants as one of the main targets. This in a context of advancement of ultra-right in Portugal, with its anti-immigration rhetoric, and in the midst of a sense that in social networks will not be punished. “This sense of impunity is somewhat provided by the logic of social networks, isn’t it? Many people sometimes when they try to denounce a content or message of hatred on social networks do not get a swift response, “says Ana Paula Costa. The case of the man who has called for money through the minds of Brazilians is being investigated, and Stefani denounced the attacks on Portuguese.” First, denounce. Store the print, photo of that content and also the link. We have here in Portugal a mechanism called the Safe Internet Center. And then the formal complaint, directly in the police, “guides Ana Paula Costa. Brazilians are the largest group of immigrants in Portugal. Eight years living in the country, and there are at least four receiving attacks because she is a journalist and Brazilian, Stefani says she’s not afraid of threats.” I already thought of leaving Portugal, but not because of that. Also because that’s just what they want, isn’t it? “Asks Stefani Costa.

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