Brief
Meta internal messages show Lula’s Instagram reach limited during Brazil election
Internal messages reviewed by Folha de S Paulo show Instagram limits on Lula and promotion of Flavio Bolsonaro during Brazil's presidential runoff campaign.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Internal communications at Meta, reviewed by Brazil's Folha de São Paulo, indicate that the Instagram accounts of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faced algorithmic restrictions during the October presidential runoff, while the platform recommended the profile and WhatsApp channel of his challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
The messages, obtained by the newspaper, show that Meta staff discussed the reduced reach of Lula's posts, noting missing share buttons, limited reaction options and lower distribution. At the same time, the platform's "Recommended Stories" list included Flávio Bolsonaro's profile and his WhatsApp channel, suggesting preferential visibility.
Meta responded to Reuters, stating that the technical issues cited were already public and that the conversations related only to the severity of the problems, not political interference. The company added that any suggestion of favoritism was false.
The revelations come after Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ordered Meta to ensure equal treatment of both candidates, imposing a daily fine of 500,000 reais for non‑compliance. Lula's campaign previously claimed that some of his posts lacked share buttons and had reduced reach, supporting the internal messages' claims.
Key facts
- Meta internal messages showed Instagram restrictions on Lula's posts during the election (aljazeera.com)
- The same messages indicated Meta recommended Flavio Bolsonaro's profile and WhatsApp channel (aljazeera.com)
- Meta told Reuters the issues were technical and denied political bias (aljazeera.com)
- Brazil's electoral court ordered Meta to treat both candidates equally, with a fine of 500,000 reais per day for violations (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Meta employees say Lula’s accounts restricted in Brazil election: Report”
