Brazil Congressman Accuses Flavio Bolsonaro of Deepfake Misuse, Milei's Role

A political firestorm is brewing in Brazil after Congressman Lindbergh Farias filed a complaint with the Prosecutor-General's Office against Flavio Bolsonaro. The complaint centers on the alleged improper use of artificial intelligence to create a deepfake video of former President Jair Bolsonaro for the PL party's convention.

“

The video shown precisely matches the prohibited conduct. (...) The caveat included at the opening of the piece stating it is an artificial intelligence simulation does not negate the violation.

Farias argues that the AI-generated video, displayed at the convention, was a deliberate attempt to circumvent Supreme Court restrictions placed on Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest. The congressman contends that the video, despite a disclaimer, violates court orders by producing a communication effect identical, or even superior, to the former president's direct speech.

“

The use of AI evidences that its producers were aware of the judicial prohibition and sought to circumvent it through a formal artifice, replacing the direct speech of the detainee with a technological simulacrum that produces an identical, if not superior, communicational effect.

The complaint also targets the appearance of Argentine President Javier Milei at the event. Farias accuses Milei of attacking Brazilian judicial authority by insulting Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes and suggesting Bolsonaro's house arrest was politically motivated. Furthermore, Farias alleges that both Milei's presence and the PL convention itself involved explicit calls for votes, violating electoral laws that prohibit campaigning before the official period.

“

This was not a protocol greeting nor a gesture of courtesy between nations.

Lindbergh Farias is requesting a federal police investigation into potential crimes of disobedience and the identification of those responsible for producing the AI video. He also seeks notification to the Supreme Court regarding potential violations of Jair Bolsonaro's restrictions and asks the Superior Electoral Court to take measures against the alleged misuse of AI and the foreign leader's participation in a party event.

“

Press that is present here today: don't like Flávio? I'll give you a piece of advice: vote for Flávio.