Brasilien: Manipuliert Meta den Wahlkampf zugunsten von Bolsonaro?
Kurz vor der Stichwahl um das Präsidentenamt in Brasilien gerät der Technologiekonzern unter Verdacht. Jetzt fordern auch US-Kongressabgeordnete Aufklärung von Chef Mark Zuckerberg.
Is the world's most powerful technology company, Meta, manipulating Brazil's presidential election in favor of right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro? Two days before the runoff between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the 45-year-old businessman, Meta is increasingly suspected of favoring Bolsonaro over Lula. Internal communications reveal employees were informed of the biased treatment.
Brazilian justice and US Congress representatives are demanding explanations. Lula and Bolsonaro face a decisive runoff on Sunday for the highest office in the South American country. Polls indicate a tight race, with Bolsonaro having a slight edge, the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro. In the first round of voting early October, the younger Bolsonaro unexpectedly led the 80-year-old Lula.
A victory for Bolsonaro would signify a rightward shift in the largest Latin American nation after four years of leftist government. Meta's reach in Brazil is immense. The company, led by Mark Zuckerberg, owns three of the country's most important communication platforms: WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. WhatsApp is used by almost every Brazilian internet user.
Instagram alone reaches around 147 million user accounts for advertising, among a country of 215 million inhabitants and around 160 million eligible voters.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
