Lula Blames Big Tech for Election Pressure as Critics Demand Evidence

Lula Blames Big Tech for Election Pressure as Critics Demand Evidence
In a nationally televised address after his reelection, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva argued that major technology companies had tried to shape Brazil’s electoral contest by boosting false material. “The so-called big techs tried to interfere in the Brazilian electoral process, giving millions of views to content with disinformation and fake news,” he said, adding that popular participation had allowed “truth” to prevail.

Lula’s account places the dispute in a broader international debate over the power of digital platforms and their role in elections. He did not identify specific companies in the remarks cited by the reports, although Meta had previously faced criticism and electoral-court questions over allegations that its platforms favored content linked to Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign and hindered Lula’s campaign.

The conservative outlets reporting on the speech took a different view, describing the president’s allegation as unsupported by evidence. One said Lula made the accusation “without proof,” while also arguing that his address did not address misinformation circulated by allies during the campaign.

The speech also contained an indirect rebuke to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who traveled to the United States after the election result. Without naming him, Lula said: “I never ran from commitments, I never ran from criticism, I never ran from the struggle and I never abandoned my country.”

Beyond the election dispute, Lula promised to govern for all Brazilians and called for political and judicial reform. He also reiterated plans to create a Public Security Ministry after approval of the public-security constitutional amendment. But the reports contrasted those commitments with concerns over public finances, saying Lula acknowledged high interest rates and public debt while offering no specific spending cuts or detailed containment measures.

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