Del Toro, Almodóvar and artists speak out for Lula; ask for support at the polls

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva moved Tuesday to have his rival’s presidential candidacy annulled, alleging that the technology giant Meta engaged in algorithmic manipulation to interfere in the election. Lula’s campaign team filed a petition with Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) seeking the disqualification of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. A source within the campaign told reporters that the legal action cites specific instances of "algorithmic manipulation" by Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The complaint argues that these actions were designed to hinder Lula’s chances of reelection ahead of the second-round vote scheduled for Sunday. The dispute centers on accusations that Meta restricted the reach of content associated with Lula’s Workers Party (PT) while allowing similar content from Bolsonaro’s camp to circulate freely. Campaign officials pointed to limited visibility for their posts on Instagram and WhatsApp as key examples. They further alleged that Meta’s artificial intelligence tool refused to generate electoral content supporting Lula, yet processed requests for Bolsonaro without issue. The PT described this behavior as "algorithmic selectivity." In response, Meta denied any bias, attributing previous technical glitches, such as the erroneous disabling of Lula’s campaign ads, to general system issues that affected multiple countries, not just Brazil. Despite denying systematic interference, Meta stated on Tuesday that it had implemented measures to comply with recent court orders ensuring equal treatment for both candidates. The company announced that only registered candidates and parties can now run advertisements on its platforms. Additionally, Meta reported removing 720 publications containing AI-generated content that lacked proper identification. This move came after the TSE gave the company a 24-hour deadline on Monday to demonstrate compliance with equality standards. The court had previously warned that failure to act would result in daily fines of approximately $200,000. Representatives from Meta and legal teams from both campaigns met at the TSE on Tuesday to discuss the situation. An independent oversight body, Meta’s Content Advisory Council, based in London, acknowledged "recurring failures" related to content concerning Brazil’s presidential elections and upcoming U.S. parliamentary votes. This admission adds weight to the claims made by Lula’s supporters, who have held protests outside Meta offices in cities like São Paulo, displaying masks of CEO Mark Zuckerberg with red horns. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s campaign has counter-accused Lula’s team of launching a negative propaganda offensive with Meta's tacit approval, though they did not provide specific evidence beyond general allegations. The political stakes are high as the two candidates enter the final days of a tightly contested race. Polls indicate a technical tie following the first round on October 4, where Bolsonaro secured 47 percent of the vote against Lula’s 45 percent. At nearly 81 years old, Lula seeks a fourth non-consecutive term, while Bolsonaro aims to succeed his father, who was convicted of attempting a coup. The rivalry has intensified since the first televised debate, where the two exchanged insults regarding corruption and loyalty. During that encounter, Lula referenced an ongoing police investigation into Flávio Bolsonaro for potential corruption linked to a film project about his father, while Bolsonaro accused Lula’s son, known as "Lulinha," of influence peddling. In a bid to shift focus toward transparency, Lula authorized the release of his bank statements and phone records, as well as those of his family members, conditional on Bolsonaro agreeing to the same disclosure. This challenge comes amid broader international attention on the Brazilian election. On Friday, a video featuring prominent global artists called for voters to support Lula. Directors Pedro Almodóvar and Guillermo del Toro, along with actors Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo, appeared in the clip. Del Toro urged Brazilians to vote for freedom and progress, referencing events in the northern hemisphere. Almodóvar described Lula’s victory as essential for Brazil and the environment, while Ruffalo called on citizens to combat fascism. Other celebrities, including French actress Juliette Binoche and British actor Tilda Swinton, joined the appeal by making an "L" shape with their fingers, a gesture popular among Lula’s base. Domestic cultural figures have largely aligned with Lula, including singers Caetano Veloso and Anitta, and actors Wagner Moura and Fernanda Torres. Conversely, Bolsonaro has garnered support from segments of the sertanejo music scene, such as Gusttavo Lima and Ana Castela, as well as football star Neymar. The Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho shared the international celebrity video online, noting that the world is watching the election. Lula’s campaign has recently pivoted to emphasize digital engagement to close the gap with Bolsonaro, who entered the runoff as the favorite but has seen his lead narrow in recent surveys. The election takes place against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions. Lula has claimed that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is attempting to interfere in the process to benefit Flávio Bolsonaro, whose father maintains a close alliance with Trump. Although Trump has not explicitly endorsed a candidate, he praised Flávio Bolsonaro’s performance in the first round. The TSE hearing on Tuesday marks a critical juncture, as the court decides whether to uphold the candidacy of the senator or accept the grounds for disqualification based on platform interference. The outcome could significantly alter the dynamics of the final voting day, with both sides preparing for intense mobilization efforts in the coming hours.