Lula’s campaign team will request the disqualification of Flavio Bolsonaro on Tuesday over alleged algorithmic manipulation by Meta aimed at harming Lula’s chances, a campaign source told AFP, in a petition to the Superior Electoral Court first revealed by Folha de S. Paulo on Monday. The court on Monday gave Meta 24 hours to prove it was complying with an order to treat both campaigns equally, threatening a daily fine of around $200,000, and Meta said on Tuesday it had completed implementing the measures required; the company denies taking any action to favour one side and has said some Lula campaign ads were mistakenly deactivated because of technical errors. Bolsonaro took 47 percent of the first round vote against Lula’s 45 percent, and polls show a technical tie ahead of the runoff on Sunday, October 25.
Lula campaign to seek Bolsonaro disqualification over Meta
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's campaign will ask Brazil's Superior Electoral Court to disqualify rival Flavio Bolsonaro over alleged algorithmic manipulation by Meta, a campaign source told AFP.
Why it matters: The request escalates the platform fight five days before the Sunday runoff, which polls show in a technical tie after Bolsonaro led the first round by 47 percent to 45 percent.
Data as of AFP report published October 21, 2026 and read in full via Arab News, with the same AFP text carried by France 24. Single wire source, hence grade C. The disqualification request and the manipulation claim are the Lula campaign's, first revealed by Folha de S. Paulo on Monday; Meta denies favouring either side. Developing item.
Sources
- Lula campaign seeks to disqualify Bolsonaro over Meta 'interference' - AFP, via Arab News - 2026-10-21