O giro nos dados: jornalismo digital investigativo, ciberativismo e decolonialidade

Abstract

This research analyzes, from a critical and decolonial perspective, the role of digital investigative journalism in the construction of a radical and participatory democracy in South America, with broader implications for the entire Global South. It is based on the understanding that colonization imposed institutional and epistemological models on invaded countries that were alien to their own realities. However, the advancement of digital technologies enables the emergence of tools and institutions capable of confronting this colonial legacy, fostering new possibilities for civic oversight of the state, led by activist collectives and independent media outlets. Throughout the study, it is argued that the classical tension between regulation and emancipation can be redefined within the context of the networked society. Regulation, traditionally monopolized by the state, also becomes an instrument exercised by civil society, expanding mechanisms for monitoring public administration and reinforcing democratic practices. To support its arguments, the research analyzes the production of the Centro de Jornalismo Investigativo Agência Pública, founded in 2011 in Brazil by women journalists. This non-profit organization employs methodologies based on open data, in-depth investigations, and the collaborative dissemination of content through Creative Commons licenses. Its model broadens the reach and impact of investigative reporting, strengthening collaborative networks and fostering accountability practices. The study concludes that, by critically appropriating contemporary technologies, countries of the Global South can promote a decolonial turn, grounded in the valorization of their historical and cultural specificities, forging a transparent state that is responsive to popular demands. In this context, digital investigative journalism emerges as a fundamental instrument of public mediation, enhancing citizen participation and contributing to the formation of a decolonial state committed to expanding radical and participatory democracy.