Brazil electoral court orders Meta to prove equal campaign treatment

Brazil's top electoral court on Monday ordered US social media giant Meta to prove within 24 hours that it is treating campaign content from incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro equally. France 24 reported that the order carries the threat of a daily fine for noncompliance ahead of Sunday's runoff election. [1]

The court order came after Lula's campaign alleged that Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, is suppressing his online content to boost his right-wing opponent. France 24 reported that Meta has denied taking actions to favor Bolsonaro. MercoPress reported earlier that Lula's campaign took the alleged favoritism to the United Nations and federal police. [1][10]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Lula's campaign previously accused Meta of election interference and planned to file a complaint with the Organisation of American States over online content restrictions. Lula faces Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a presidential election runoff scheduled for October 25. [16][17]

DW reported that the two candidates clashed in a heated first debate days before the October 25 runoff election. According to DW, the candidates traded barbs, including over Bolsonaro's ties to US President Donald Trump. [7]