Lula accuses Meta of election interference
The leftist leader is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term in the October 25 runoff, where he will face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign has accused tech giant Meta of interfering in the country's upcoming presidential election. The leftist leader is seeking a fourth term in the October 25 runoff, which will see him face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula's campaign reported on Saturday that Meta's platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, had allegedly blocked his content and restricted its distribution.
Instances cited include his profile being prevented from promoting Instagram feed posts and a post from his official account experiencing disruptions in view counts. Additionally, Lula's profiles were reportedly removed from Instagram's search function prior to the first round of voting, in which Flavio Bolsonaro emerged as the top contender.
The Superior Electoral Court of Brazil (TSE) has given Meta 48 hours to explain the allegations and clarify whether it reduced the reach of posts by Lula's campaign. Meta, however, has denied these claims, stating that they are "simply false" and not supported by facts. The company emphasized its compliance with electoral regulations and commitment to a level playing field on its platforms.
Lula's campaign has filed a complaint with the electoral court over the alleged social media blocks.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
