Meta employees say Lula’s accounts restricted in Brazil election: Report

What happened

Folha de S Paulo, a Brazilian newspaper, reported internal messages from Meta staff. The messages said Lula's Instagram accounts were negatively affected by restrictions. They also said Meta's apps recommended the profile and WhatsApp channel of his rival, Flavio Bolsonaro. Meta says the problems were technical, were already public, and were not about politics.

Key facts

• The presidential runoff is on October 25, 2026.
• A court fine is 500,000 reais (about $98,700) per day if Meta does not follow the ruling.
• Lula's party says some of his posts had no share button and reduced reach.
• Lula filed a complaint against Meta on Thursday before a court ruling that day.

Why the case started

Lula is the left-wing president running again. Flavio Bolsonaro is a right-wing senator. He did better than expected in the first round of voting this month. Lula said Meta used biased algorithms and AI limits to help Bolsonaro. Meta owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Why it matters

Social media can shape what voters see before an election. A court now says Meta must treat both candidates the same. If the company does not follow the order, it must pay a daily fine. The story shows how big tech companies and governments are clashing over fair elections.

What to watch

• Whether Meta follows the court order to treat both candidates equally.
• Whether Meta pays the daily fine if it does not comply.
• Whether more internal messages or evidence come out.
• The final runoff vote on October 25.