Lula and Bolsonaro seek rival’s disqualification days before Brazil runoff
publishers 146articles 270first reported 25 Sep, 00:35 UTCdeveloping since 25 Sep · 34 editions
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro have moved to disqualify each other over alleged misuse of digital platforms, escalating their dispute days before the October 25 presidential runoff.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers filed a request with the Superior Electoral Court on Tuesday seeking to annul Lula’s candidacy. They alleged that the government abused its power by using WhatsApp to distribute messages promoting social programs, benefits and other initiatives during the campaign. The filing also seeks to suspend further messages; the allegations have not been ruled on by the court.
Lula’s campaign said it planned to file its own request Wednesday to disqualify Bolsonaro, alleging that Meta manipulated its algorithms to suppress Lula’s online content and benefit his opponent. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said Tuesday that it had implemented measures required by an electoral court order to treat both campaigns equally. The court had given the company 24 hours to demonstrate compliance and threatened a daily fine of about $200,000.
The legal confrontation followed a heated televised debate Sunday in which the candidates exchanged accusations of lying and corruption while arguing over the economy, public security, healthcare and relations with the United States. Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, finished about two percentage points ahead of Lula in the first round. Recent polling cited by multiple outlets indicated a close runoff.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 486 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 146
- Source articles
- 270
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 486 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →