Supporters of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva protested outside Meta’s São Paulo headquarters, six days before the election, accusing the tech giant of favoring opposition candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. Organized by the platform «Não Se Meta,» the demonstration drew about 200 protesters who demanded Meta explain its content moderation practices. They alleged the company reduced the reach of Lula’s posts while boosting those of Bolsonaro, calling it electoral interference.
Protesters argued Meta cannot act as an "invisible judge" of the electoral process and accused it of committing electoral crimes since 2018. The Superior Electoral Court gave Meta 24 hours to prove equal treatment for both candidates’ campaigns. Both Lula and Bolsonaro have filed complaints with the court, claiming their content is disadvantaged on Meta’s platforms, which the company denies.
One goal of the rally was to stop "manipulating elections through social media" and prevent working-class content from being suppressed. Protesters noted that 70% of Brazilians get news from Instagram, amplifying concerns over digital influence. Activist Veronyka Gimenes (Trava Hacker) denounced "digital colonialism," calling for autonomy via open, transparent Brazilian social media platforms.
Fellow activist Tiana Cauton said achieving digital sovereignty in Lula’s fourth term is essential. Mandi Coelho linked Big Tech to hate and violence, referencing her Gaza activism. Attendees held banners of Zuckerberg and Donald Trump, chanting for "digital sovereignty" and Meta’s removal from the electoral process.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing