From the Big Lie to the Viral Lie

This article develops a theoretical framework for understanding continuities in propaganda between Nazi Germany and contemporary digital disinformation, synthesizing communication theory with historical analysis. Drawing on agenda-setting, framing, and cultivation theories, as well as primary sources, including Hitler's Mein Kampf and archival materials from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the study identifies systematic parallels between Goebbels's propaganda apparatus and modern algorithmic manipulation. Through comparative analysis of Nazi techniques (simplification, emotional manipulation, the "Big Lie", and enemy construction) and contemporary disinformation campaigns, supported by an empirical case study of COVID-19 misinformation (2020-2021), the article demonstrates how digital technologies amplify rather than fundamentally alter classical propaganda mechanisms. The framework identifies five critical continuities: message simplification, emotional over rational appeal, scapegoating, manipulation of source authority, and reality construction through repetition. This theoretical contribution extends beyond descriptive comparison to establish a unified analytical model applicable across historical and contemporary contexts, with implications for media literacy education and democratic resilience in the digital age.

Portuguese Version