Lula Campaign Seeks Disqualification of Bolsonaro Over Alleged Meta Interference
Lula’s campaign will file a petition to disqualify Flavio Bolsonaro, citing alleged algorithmic manipulation by Meta.
Key facts
- Lula’s campaign will request the disqualification of Flavio Bolsonaro over alleged Meta interference
- The petition claims Meta performed algorithmic manipulation to suppress Lula content and boost Bolsonaro
- Meta denied favoring one side and said it complied with a court order
- The Superior Electoral Court gave Meta 24 hours to prove compliance, threatening a daily fine of about $200,000
Lula’s campaign is preparing to submit a petition to Brazil’s top electoral court to disqualify right‑wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro over alleged social media interference by Meta, the owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.
The petition alleges that Meta performed algorithmic manipulation to suppress Lula’s campaign content and boost Bolsonaro’s, a claim that Lula’s campaign source said was the basis for the request.
Meta denied taking any actions to favor one side in the election, and said it had implemented measures to comply with the Superior Electoral Court’s decision to treat both campaigns equally.
The court had ordered Meta to prove compliance within 24 hours, threatening a daily fine of around $200,000 if it failed to comply.
In addition to the disqualification request, Lula has challenged Bolsonaro to release his personal bank, tax and telephone records before the runoff, offering to do the same if Bolsonaro complies.
The dispute comes as the presidential race heads into a runoff, with Flavio Bolsonaro having received 47 percent of the vote in the first round and Lula 45 percent, according to the sources.
Context
Brazil is holding a presidential election with a runoff scheduled for Sunday. Allegations of social media manipulation have surfaced, prompting legal action by Lula’s campaign.
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