Brazil Electoral Prosecutor Recommends Social Media Measures Against Disinformation and Political Violence for 2026 Elections

Brazil's Electoral Public Prosecutor's Office is urging social media platforms to take decisive action against disinformation and political violence ahead of the 2026 elections. In a recommendation issued on Monday, the office called for the immediate removal of illicit content, the establishment of a dedicated reporting channel in Portuguese, and the creation of a comprehensive plan to prevent and mitigate risks to the electoral process's integrity.

The prosecutor's office, led by Vice Electoral Prosecutor General Alexandre Espinosa Barbosa, based its recommendations on a framework of existing norms. These include resolutions from the Superior Electoral Court concerning the use of digital technologies in elections, such as content amplification and artificial intelligence rules. Decisions from the Supreme Federal Court regarding the responsibility of big tech companies for illicit content were also cited, emphasizing duties like maintaining notification channels and ensuring a legal representative in Brazil.

Furthermore, the General Data Protection Law informed the requirement for transparency and the prohibition of using sensitive data in electoral advertising. A decree focused on crimes against women also mandates dedicated channels for reporting such cases, reduced response times, and mechanisms to block the re-uploading of intimate content. The recommendations also aim to curb the reach of coordinated attacks against women, requiring platforms to act swiftly.

The document outlines ten specific recommendations for digital application providers. These include providing authorities with information on service operations, content moderation rules, and recommendation systems. Platforms must also establish a permanent, free channel for reporting illicit content, offering a right to appeal for users whose content is removed. Immediate removal of content and accounts posing risks, such as anti-democratic acts or hate speech, is also demanded, with platforms facing potential liability for failures. Technical measures to prevent the re-dissemination of already flagged illicit content are also part of the directive.

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The document was issued on Monday, the 6th, and signed by Alexandre Espinosa Bravo Barbosa, the Vice Electoral Prosecutor General.