Book Release: The Digitalisation of Anti-Corruption in Brazil
Palgrave Macmillan has recently published the book authored by our researcher Fernanda Odilla, as part of the BIT-ACT project
Published on 25 November 2024
We are proud to announce that the book The Digitalisation of Anti-Corruption in Brazil: Scandals, Reforms and Innovation, produced as part of the BIT-ACT research project, is now available.
Written by our researcher Fernanda Odilla, the book explores how digital technologies, from social media to artificial intelligence, are reshaping anti-corruption efforts in Brazil - a country known for its history of political scandals and robust digital media landscape.
The author reviews the main corruption scandals in the country and shows these scandals, each in its own way, have driven the implementation of significant reforms, many of which are linked to the digitalisation of public administration or directly to the digitalisation of anti-corruption efforts.
Odilla looks at the role of grassroots movements, tech-savvy individuals and public organisations in promoting innovative technologies to curb corruption and promote transparency and accountability.
Drawing on interviews with experts, activists and officials, as well as extensive open-source and social media data, the book identifies key actors, their practices and the challenges they face in using technology to fight corruption.
It introduces the novel concept of 'integrity techies' - actors who design and implement anti-corruption technologies - and examines these innovations' successes, limitations and unintended consequences. Odilla highlights the need for better metrics to evaluate the outcomes of anti-corruption technologies and issues such as sustainability, durability and risks of bias and unfairness, calling for more ethical solutions.
With its compelling case study of Brazil and a theoretical framework that can be applied globally, this work offers rich insights for students, researchers and practitioners in the fields of technology, governance and anti-corruption.
A vital resource for anyone interested in the intersection of digital innovation and social reform, The Digitalisation of Anti-Corruption in Brazil is available now from Palgrave Macmillan.