Why social media has become an election issue in Brazil’s presidential race
News Source
•Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:14:02 +0000
📰 What Happened
Brazil votes on Sunday in the final round of its presidential election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The race is tight, and both men are fighting hard online.
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, has been accused at Brazil's top election court of holding back Lula's posts and boosting Bolsonaro's. Campaign spending on Meta's apps reached at least 288m reais ($57m) this year, double the 2022 figure.
🔍 The Backstory
More than 76% of Brazilian voters now get their news online, so social platforms are the main stage for politics. Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father, built his 2018 win on viral posts. After losing in 2022, his supporters stormed Congress and the Supreme Court.
Brazil then passed strict rules. Fake AI images of candidates are banned, and ads using AI must carry a warning. Critics say Meta is not doing enough to follow them.
🎯 Why It Matters
Who controls what billions of people see online can decide elections. Brazil's fight is a test case for every country watching big tech and democracy.
Brazil votes on Sunday in the final round of its presidential election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The race is tight, and both men are fighting hard online.
Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, has been accused at Brazil's top election court of holding back Lula's posts and boosting Bolsonaro's. Campaign spending on Meta's apps reached at least 288m reais ($57m) this year, double the 2022 figure.
More than 76% of Brazilian voters now get their news online, so social platforms are the main stage for politics. Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father, built his 2018 win on viral posts. After losing in 2022, his supporters stormed Congress and the Supreme Court.
Brazil then passed strict rules. Fake AI images of candidates are banned, and ads using AI must carry a warning. Critics say Meta is not doing enough to follow them.
Who controls what billions of people see online can decide elections. Brazil's fight is a test case for every country watching big tech and democracy.