Brazil’s Federal Police Probe Alleged Hate Office Linked to Pernambuco Governor

Brazil’s Federal Police are investigating whether a so-called “hate office” linked to Pernambuco Governor Raquel Lyra operated a coordinated online network against political opponents.

The inquiry reportedly began in late 2025 after state lawmaker Rodrigo Farias, an ally of Recife Mayor João Campos, filed a complaint in October. Campos, who was re-elected mayor of the capital, is Lyra’s political rival as she seeks another term as governor.

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The profiles coordinate an extensive network of synchronized posts to amplify the reach of their content, directing genuine messages of hate at the governor’s opponents.

The complaint alleges that defamatory and slanderous posts began during the 2024 municipal pre-campaign. It says synchronized profiles amplified the material and sought to damage Campos ahead of the 2026 elections. The filing also raises alleged irregularities in a government tender for institutional advertising, including claims that companies connected to the governor’s relatives received favorable treatment.

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I campaign openly, not through hidden structures.

According to the complaint, people carrying out the alleged campaign had close ties to Pernambuco’s government through appointed positions or advertising contracts. It describes the network’s posts as messages of hate directed at the governor’s opponents.

Lyra said in a statement that she campaigns openly rather than through “hidden structures” and is committed to a debate based on truth. Her campaign said the accusation was serious but unnamed and unsupported, and said Lyra had gone to court to force João Campos to identify whom he meant when referring to a digital militia. It also pointed to a decision by the Pernambuco electoral court ordering measures against a coordinated network of fake profiles used to attack the governor.

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Whoever makes an accusation has a duty to say whom.