Brief
Lula campaign says Meta blocked his posts ahead of Brazil runoff
Brazil's leftist president accuses Meta of suppressing his social‑media reach as the Oct. 25 runoff approaches.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign accused Meta of interfering with the election on Saturday, saying the company restricted the distribution of the president’s posts on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
What happened
The campaign reported that Meta prevented Lula’s profile from promoting Instagram feed posts and that a post from his official account suffered an interruption in view counts, reducing its reach. It also said that, before the first‑round vote on Sunday, Lula’s and other left‑leaning leaders’ profiles vanished from Instagram’s search function.
What the reports add
France 24 noted that Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) gave Meta 48 hours to explain whether it reduced the reach of Lula’s posts and to detail any irregularities. The court ordered the company to report “profile by profile, all the measures applied” to Lula’s official accounts.
What was said
Meta’s Brazil office called the accusations “simply false” and “not supported by the facts,” adding that similar technical issues occurred elsewhere and that the company complies with electoral regulations.
How it came about
Lula is seeking a fourth non‑consecutive term in the Oct. 25 runoff against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The campaign’s complaint follows earlier tensions over social‑media influence in Brazil’s elections, a theme also covered in Felo’s recent reporting on the election’s final week.
Key facts
- Lula's campaign alleges Meta blocked promotion of his Instagram posts and reduced view counts. (france24.com)
- Meta's Brazil office denied the allegations, calling them false. (france24.com)
- Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ordered Meta to explain the alleged restrictions within 48 hours. (france24.com)
Sources
- [1] france24.com — originally reported as “Brazil's Lula accuses social media giant Meta of election interference amid tight run-off campaign”
