Lula Campaign Seeks Bolsonaro’s Disqualification Over Alleged Meta Election Interference

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s campaign team will seek the disqualification of his rival, Flavio Bolsonaro, over alleged election interference by technology giant Meta, a source told AFP on Tuesday, days before the country’s presidential runoff.

Lula is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term but faces a strong challenge from Flavio Bolsonaro, the right-wing candidate and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence over an attempted coup following his 2022 electoral defeat.

Flavio Bolsonaro secured 47% of the vote against Lula’s 45% in the first round earlier this month. Opinion polls have indicated a technical tie ahead of Sunday’s runoff.

The petition, to be submitted to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), alleges “algorithmic manipulation” by Meta that could undermine Lula’s chances of winning, the campaign source said. Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo first reported the development on Monday.

Brazil Court Orders Meta To Ensure Equal Treatment

Meta and lawyers representing both presidential campaigns were scheduled to meet at the TSE on Tuesday, a court source said.

On Monday, the court gave Meta 24 hours to demonstrate compliance with an order requiring it to treat both campaigns equally. The court also threatened a daily fine of approximately $200,000 if the company failed to comply.

Lula’s campaign has accused Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, of suppressing the president’s online content to benefit Bolsonaro.

In a statement on Tuesday, Meta said it had completed the measures required to comply with the court’s decision.

“We have completed the implementation of the measures to comply with the Superior Electoral Court’s decision,” the company said.

Lula Campaign Alleges WhatsApp AI Bias

Lula’s team has also alleged inconsistencies in WhatsApp’s artificial intelligence tool, claiming that election-related content supporting the incumbent was restricted while content associated with Bolsonaro remained unaffected.

Meta has denied taking action to favour either candidate. However, the company previously acknowledged that some of Lula’s campaign advertisements had been mistakenly deactivated because of technical errors.

The allegations have prompted protests against the company. Dozens of Lula supporters gathered outside Meta’s offices in Sao Paulo on Monday, carrying placards and chanting slogans including “Meta out of Brazil”.

Lula Accuses US Of Election Interference

Lula, 80, has also accused the United States government of interfering in Brazil’s election in favour of Flavio Bolsonaro, 45.

US President Donald Trump has not explicitly endorsed Bolsonaro, but described the challenger’s strong first-round performance as a “very, very big victory”.

The runoff is being closely watched across Latin America. A Lula victory would maintain Brazil’s left-wing leadership, while a Bolsonaro win would bring the country closer to the region’s right-wing governments aligned with Trump.

The unexpectedly strong performance by Flavio Bolsonaro in the first round has energised Lula’s campaign. The incumbent’s supporters have organised large rallies and stepped up efforts to strengthen their presence on social media ahead of Sunday’s vote.

Flavio Bolsonaro Vows To Free His Father

Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign is also closely tied to the political legacy of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.

Flavio has pledged to secure his father’s release if elected president, making the former leader’s fate a prominent issue in the campaign.

With the runoff approaching, the dispute over Meta’s handling of political content has added another dimension to an already closely contested election, raising questions about social media platforms’ role in Brazil’s electoral process.