TSE Orders Meta to Demonstrate Equal Treatment of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Campaigns Within 24 Hours

The Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) has mandated Meta to prove it is providing equal treatment to the political campaigns of President Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro within 24 hours. This order follows accusations from Lula's campaign that Meta has been selectively restricting their content on social media platforms while allowing Bolsonaro's campaign more favorable conditions.

Minister Marco Aurélio Bellizze Oliveira of the TSE increased the daily fine for Meta's non-compliance from R$ 500,000 to R$ 1 million after the company failed to meet an initial 72-hour deadline. The court now requires Meta to provide detailed information on its post recommendation algorithms, ad reach data for both campaigns, and investigations into potentially fraudulent profiles influencing election discourse.

Lula’s campaign specifically reported significant delivery restrictions on their posts, including blocks on AI-generated content related to Lula, while content supporting Bolsonaro faced no such limitations. Meanwhile, Flávio Bolsonaro's team has also raised concerns, highlighting false advertisements against their candidate. Meta claims to have banned candidate recommendations to comply with TSE regulations but has yet to satisfy the court's demands for transparency.

Political scientist Maurício Santoro expressed concerns about foreign influence, suggesting that U.S.-based tech companies like Meta could be impacting Brazilian elections by shaping narratives through their algorithms. He pointed to possible ties to right-wing movements that could affect electoral integrity.

This development comes amid heightened political tensions during the 2026 presidential campaign. Lula notably gained more social media mentions than Bolsonaro after a recent debate, where Bolsonaro was put on the defensive by tough questions from Lula. The TSE’s current focus highlights the importance of fair digital campaign practices in Brazil’s increasingly influential online political landscape.

The court’s orders require Meta to comply swiftly, with significant fines looming for continued delays, underscoring ongoing scrutiny over tech platforms' roles in Brazil's democratic process.