Meta faces bias claims ahead of Brazil presidential runoff election

The campaign of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking to disqualify the presidential ticket of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of Brazil's runoff election, Courthouse News Service reported. The filing in the country's top electoral court follows allegations that social media company Meta favored Flávio Bolsonaro's candidacy over Lula's campaign. [1]

United Nations experts called on Meta to protect political expression and guarantee effective remedies during the election, according to ohchr, France 24, and Truthdig. The Guardian reported that the political conflict over Meta's alleged bias has intensified in the final days before the vote. Meanwhile, Meta denied the accusations of anti-Lula political bias following an electoral court ruling, the New York Amsterdam News reported. [2][3][4][5][6]

United States Senator Bernie Sanders and 12 Democratic House members sent a letter to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg requesting an explanation, Courthouse News Service reported. The American lawmakers asked Meta, which operates platforms including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, to provide a briefing and submit written answers by November 4 regarding whether the company would permit an independent audit of its election systems. [1][7]

The top electoral court in Brazil continues to oversee the ongoing legal dispute between the political campaigns and Meta prior to the presidential runoff, Courthouse News Service reported. [1]