Digital Politics and Connectivity Shape Brazil's 2026 Election Landscape
Brazil's 2026 elections are being reshaped by mobile connectivity and AI-driven political communication, alongside new regulations and connectivity policies addressing democratic challenges.
- • Brazil has 272 million smartphones, making mobile devices central to political communication in 2026.
- • The Superior Electoral Court prohibits deepfakes and mandates AI content identification in elections.
- • Digital political strategies use AI for personalized messaging influencing voter emotions.
- • Connectivity initiatives like Norte Conectado and Brasil Antenado aim to reduce digital inequality.
- • Regulatory and connectivity measures strive to uphold democratic engagement amid technological shifts.
Key details
As Brazil approaches the 2026 elections, digital technologies, especially mobile devices and AI, are fundamentally transforming political communication and voter engagement. According to data from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, Brazil currently has 272 million smartphones, averaging 1.3 devices per person, making mobile connectivity the primary platform for political interaction. Campaigning has unofficially started, with polls highlighting competitive candidates, and political discourse is increasingly mediated through messages, short videos, memes, and private conversations on mobile devices.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has implemented regulations since 2024 to address emerging challenges in digital political campaigning. These include prohibitions on deepfakes and requirements to identify AI-generated content and restrictions on automated bots contacting voters. These measures aim to confront the threat of misinformation, which, as semiotician Eric Landowski explains, undermines democracy through doubt and emotional influence rather than outright falsehoods.
Digital political strategies now focus on highly personalized messaging that targets voters' emotions and individual profiles, shifting political communication from broad, impersonal approaches to one centered on closeness and recognition. This shift raises concerns about democracy's relational foundations, as personalized digital interactions may diminish public engagement, mutual recognition, and collective reflection essential for democratic health.
Parallel to these technological and regulatory changes, connectivity initiatives remain a cornerstone for enabling inclusive digital political participation. Gina Marques, CEO of the Entidade Administradora da Faixa (EAF), highlights significant projects like Norte Conectado, which expands fiber optic infrastructure into remote Amazonian regions, and Brasil Antenado, designed to ensure open TV access for low-income families. These programs seek to bridge Brazil's territorial digital divide and promote equality in access to information, education, and culture.
Marques advocates for sustained public policies making connectivity a permanent state priority rather than a temporary goal, emphasizing digital literacy and effective technology use combined with robust governance. Such efforts are crucial for ensuring the 2026 elections are underpinned by democratic development supported by universal access to digital infrastructure.
Together, these developments paint a complex picture for Brazil's 2026 elections: a digital political environment driven by AI and personalized messaging, operating under evolving regulations to combat misinformation, and supported by foundational connectivity policies expanding access and inclusion across a vast and diverse nation. The challenge lies in balancing technological innovation with democratic values, ensuring politics remains a collective, public endeavor rather than fragmented, individualized interactions fostering apathy or ethical ruptures.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
