Brazil fines Meta for unequal treatment during presidential election

On November 10, 2026, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil imposed a fine of 7.5 million reais (approximately 1.2 million euros) on Meta. The penalty was issued due to the company's failure to ensure equal treatment of presidential candidates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, during the election campaign.

While the court found that Meta failed in its regulatory obligations, Judge Marco Aurélio Beliz clarified that there was no evidence of intentional action by the company to manipulate or rig the October 25, 2026, election, which resulted in a victory for the leftist incumbent Lula da Silva over the right-wing challenger Bolsonaro, who was supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. Lula’s legal team had accused Meta of algorithmic manipulation and acting as a political agent, while the corporation denied these allegations, attributing observed discrepancies to technical issues.

Following his victory, President Lula has pledged to strengthen the legal framework governing social media networks in Brazil. The government continues to advocate for stricter regulations to prevent future digital interference in national democratic processes.