In brief
In a last‑minute push before Brazil’s Sunday runoff, President Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva filed a petition with the Superior Electoral Court seeking to bar rival Flávio Bolsonaro on grounds of alleged bias by Meta, the owner of WhatsApp and Instagram. Bolsonaro has counter‑demanded Lula’s disqualification over mass WhatsApp posts. A United Nations report warned of uneven reach and account suspensions between the two campaigns, prompting Meta’s denials. With a tight first‑round finish, the race is now mired in legal battles over social‑media fairness.
Lula seeks Bolsonaro’s disqualification over Meta bias ahead of Brazil runoff
'Brazil’s left‑wing president Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva has filed a petition with the country’s top electoral court to bar right‑wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro from the vote, citing alleged bias by the social‑media company Meta.
'Lula’s campaign argues that Meta, which operates WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, disproportionately limited content for Bolsonaro’s campaign and instead amplified posts from the Lula side. Bolsonaro, in turn, filed a counter‑petition demanding that Lula be disqualified on the grounds of “mass dissemination of government posts on WhatsApp.”
'The dispute follows a United Nations report that warned about irregularities in the reach and engagement of each side’s online messages. The special rapporteur on freedom of expression said Meta must “ensure a level playing field online during the election.” The report highlighted temporary suspensions of campaign accounts, differences in audience reach and restrictions on Instagram posts.
'Meta has denied any bias, pledging to comply with any court order to treat both campaigns equally. Meanwhile, Lula’s campaign claims Bolsonaro’s social‑media posts have received artificial boosts, and they point to user complaints that Meta’s AI‑generated media did not reflect Lula’s content.
'The run‑off is scheduled for Sunday, with Bolsonaro trailing Lula by a narrow margin in the first round. Court petitions also seek to bar Bolsonaro and his vice‑presidential running mate Alfredo Gaspar from standing in the 2026 election for eight years.
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