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Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has ordered Meta to pay a fine of 7.5 million reais (approximately $1.34 million) for failing to fully adhere to judicial directives during last month’s presidential election. While the court penalized the tech giant for its handling of the legal process, it stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting the company intentionally sought to influence the election results.
Court cites lack of transparency
The unanimous ruling on Tuesday followed a complaint filed by the coalition of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Ahead of the October 25 runoff, the coalition accused Meta—which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—of engaging in “algorithmic manipulation” that favored far-right candidate Flavio Bolsonaro.
Reporting judge Marco Aurelio Belizze noted that the fine was imposed due to Meta’s failure to meet deadlines and a general lack of transparency throughout the court’s investigation. According to the ruling, the company provided incomplete disclosures and created challenges for officials attempting to verify the information submitted. However, Belizze emphasized that proving intentional bias would require further, robust evidence produced through formal legal proceedings.
Meta disputes the ruling
Meta previously informed the court that it had taken necessary steps to ensure equal treatment for both political campaigns. Following the court’s decision, the company issued a statement on Wednesday strongly rejecting the ruling. “We will continue to present the facts and defend ourselves against false allegations in the ongoing legal proceedings,” the company stated.
Calls for increased regulation
President Lula secured victory in the October 25 runoff with 51.7% of the vote, compared to 48.2% for Bolsonaro. In his subsequent victory address, the president advocated for stricter regulation of major technology platforms, citing concerns regarding their role in the election. He stated that the country must address what he described as foreign interference occurring through digital platforms.
