Brazil’s presidential rivals, Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula, have each sought the other’s disqualification over alleged social media interference, days before the October 25 runoff in a near-tie race. The Brazil runoff Lula Bolsonaro contest has become increasingly contentious as both campaigns turn to the courts.
According to Al Jazeera, lawyers for Flavio Bolsonaro filed a request with the Superior Electoral Court on Tuesday. It alleges Lula committed "abuse of power" through mass dissemination of government WhatsApp postings during the campaign. The request seeks to declare Lula and Social Communications Minister Sidonio Palmeira ineligible to hold public office for eight years.
Lula’s campaign said it would ask for Bolsonaro’s disqualification over alleged election interference by Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The campaign cited alleged "algorithmic manipulation" aimed at harming Lula’s chances, according to a campaign source who spoke to AFP, as reported by Al Jazeera. The outlet said the petition had not yet been officially filed. Straits Times (SG) reported that the campaign first expected to file on October 20, then that coordinator Senator Camilo Santana said October 21. Al Jazeera and SCMP said it would be requested on Wednesday.
The electoral court has given Meta 24 hours to prove it is complying with an order to treat both campaigns equally, according to the Straits Times (SG). The court threatened a daily fine of around US$200,000. Meta said on Tuesday, as quoted by Al Jazeera: "We have completed the implementation of the measures to comply with the Superior Electoral Court’s decision."
The order followed Lula’s campaign allegation that Meta was suppressing his online content to boost Bolsonaro. Meta denies favouring either side. It said some Lula campaign ads were mistakenly deactivated due to technical errors. Lula’s campaign also alleges that WhatsApp’s AI tool limited Lula-related content while leaving Bolsonaro content untouched. Meta says it took no actions to favour one side.
Meta said only candidates and parties registered with the electoral court can now place ads on its networks. It also said it removed 720 posts containing unlabelled AI-generated content.
The race is close. According to the Straits Times (SG), Flavio Bolsonaro won 47% in the first round to Lula’s 45%, and polls show a technical tie ahead of the runoff. Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for attempting a coup after the 2022 election.
The Superior Electoral Court must rule on the disqualification requests. No ruling or hearing outcome on either petition has been reported. Lula’s government and Sidonio Palmeira have not responded to the Bolsonaro allegations in the sources reviewed. Bolsonaro’s claim that the government sent mass WhatsApp messages to millions of Brazilians is unverified, and no message volume or evidence has been cited. Coverage of the Lula petition relies on campaign statements, and SCMP was available only through headlines and short excerpts. Brazilians vote in the runoff on October 25.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.