In brief
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has filed a petition to disqualify right‑wing contender Flávio Bolsonaro over alleged bias by Facebook owner Meta. Lula claims the platform limited content supporting him while boosting Bolsonaro’s posts, while Bolsonaro counters with allegations of government‑backed WhatsApp targeting. Meta denies unequal treatment and promises compliance with court orders. United Nations experts demand a level playing field, citing account disruptions and reach disparities. The dispute precedes Brazil’s decisive second‑round vote, as polls point to a razor‑thin margin.
In a filing to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has asked that his opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, be disqualified for alleged interference by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
He claims the platform curtailed content that supported him while boosting posts linked to the right‑wing candidate.
Bolsonaro countered by seeking disqualification of Lula, arguing that government‑run WhatsApp accounts were used to deliver mass political messaging.
Meta has denied unequal treatment, stating it would comply with a court order to treat both campaigns equally.
United Nations experts, in a report led by the special rapporteur on freedom of expression, warned that Meta must ensure a level playing field during the election, citing temporary interruptions of accounts and differential reach.
The case arrives just hours before Brazil’s second‑round vote, when polls suggest a razor‑thin margin between the candidates.
Lula’s campaign has also filed a petition against Bolsonaro for abuse of economic power and misuse of social networks, asking the court to ban him from standing for eight years.
Pro‑Lula supporters gathered outside Meta’s São Paulo office, accusing the company of interfering in the electoral process.
