Meta Disables Lula's Ads on Facebook
The Meta disabled ads for President Lula on Facebook ten days before the elections, reinforcing suspicions of favoring the right among Lula's allies. The company has not yet commented on the matter.
Meta has disabled announcements of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Facebook ten days before the elections, generating immediate reaction from allies of the petista. The episode rekindled the debate on the performance of big techs in the Brazilian political scene and raised suspicions of favoring the right.
The incident was reported by Agência Brasil, which highlighted the proximity of the lawsuit and the impact of the measure. According to the vehicle, the action reinforced the discourse of Lula’s allies that companies based in the Estados Unidos work in favor of the political opponents of the PT.
Election context and allied reaction
The deactivation occurred at a critical moment of the campaign, when digital communication is essential to reach voters. Allies of the president interpreted the measure as another sign of foreign interference in the Brazilian electoral process.
Agência Brasil recalled that the owner of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that he would act in collaboration with the administration of Donald Trump to pressure governments that were acting against American companies. Meta has not commented on the matter so far.
Proceedings against American interference
Lula himself and the candidate of the Mission, Renan Santos, filed lawsuits against American interference in the elections. The initiatives seek to hold the platforms accountable for alleged abuses and to ensure the smoothness of the electoral process.
The lawsuits represent an escalation in tension between the Brazilian government and the big techs, which had already been criticized for their performance in previous elections. The source did not detail the progress of the proceedings.
Another episode involving the Meta
Another episode that prompted discussions about an alleged favoring of the Meta on the right was the removal of the profile of the humorist Fábio Porchat after the publication of a video about the Master case. The removal generated outrage on social media and raised questions about the moderation of the platform’s content.
Porchat’s case has gained repercussions for involving a well-known public figure and for occurring in a context of growing political polarization. The temporal coincidence with the deactivation of Lula’s ads widened suspicions of political bias.
Meta Response on Porchat
The report went to Meta to comment on the two cases. On Porchat’s profile, the company responded that it restored the account after an “internal review” and apologized for the inconvenience. The tech giant has not commented on the profile of the President of the Republic.
The space for clarification remains open, and the absence of an official response to Lula’s announcements increases the pressure on the company. Digital law experts warn of the need for transparency in moderation decisions and political advertising.
Impact on public debate
The controversy reignites the discussion about the power of digital platforms in the formation of public opinion and the conduct of electoral campaigns. For Lula’s allies, the Goal measure is further evidence that big techs act in a coordinated manner with foreign political interests.
The case also calls into question the neutrality of social networks in electoral contexts, especially in countries of the Global South. The lack of specific regulation in Brazil aggravates the sense of impunity and favors distrust in democratic institutions.
Next steps and expectations
While the Target is not officially manifested, the expectation grows for a response that clarifies the criteria used for the deactivation of the ads. Pressure from authorities and civil society may lead the company to review its policies or to detail the reasons for the action.
The outcome of the case will have a direct impact on voter confidence in the electoral process and on the relationship between the Brazilian government and digital platforms. Follow the updates on the Boca no Trombone.
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