In brief
In the lead‑up to Brazil’s pivotal run‑off, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has petitioned the Superior Electoral Court to disqualify challenger Flávio Bolsonaro over accusations that Meta limited Bolsonaro’s content while boosting Lula’s messages. Bolsonaro’s campaign counters with claims that Lula used government data for mass WhatsApp messaging, alleging abuse of public power. Meta denies favouritism and has pledged to comply with any court order. The dispute follows a United Nations review warning of uneven digital engagement between candidates. As voters head to the polls, the outcome could hinge not only on politics but on the integrity of online campaigning.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has formally requested that his right‑wing rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, be disqualified from the inaugural polls after alleging a bias from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
In a petition filed with the Superior Electoral Court on Wednesday, Lula’s campaign accused Meta of curbing Bolsonaro’s content while boosting posts from the incumbent. Bolsonaro has, in turn, filed a counter‑petition accusing Lula of mass‑messaging on WhatsApp via government data, claiming the admin abused public power.
Meta calls the allegations groundless, saying it treats all political campaigns equally and has agreed to comply with any court order. The dispute comes after United Nations expert Chris Brittany‑Simpson urged the company to ensure a level playing field during the campaign, citing reported interruptions and differential reach between the contenders.
Brazil’s electorate will vote on Sunday, with Bolsonaro having won the first round by a narrow margin but falling short of the 50% threshold. Analysts say the final round could be as close as a few votes per million, making the decision over social‑media allegations all the more consequential.
