Cármen Lúcia: 'Without a bar, there is no democracy'

Supreme Court Justice Cármen Lúcia declared that "without a bar, there is no democracy," drawing parallels between social gatherings and democratic resilience.

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without a bar, there is no democracy

Speaking at the University of São Paulo's Law School, Lúcia reminisced about her student days in the 1970s. She described evading police during protests and returning home to anxious mothers. "Despite all this, we went out and fought for what we wanted," she recalled, emphasizing the spirit of activism.

Lúcia explained that in those times, frustrations with the military regime often culminated in discussions at local bars, which she called "botecos." "Indeed, I think without a bar there is no democracy, so we had to meet and solve all the problems of humanity and go home," she stated, highlighting these spaces as crucial for community and problem-solving.

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I think without a bar there is no democracy, so we had to meet and solve all the problems of humanity and go home.

Her remarks followed a warning from fellow Justice Alexandre de Moraes regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the upcoming elections. Moraes cautioned candidates against employing AI for disinformation, stating that such actions would lead to disqualification. The TSE is reportedly discussing regulations for AI in electoral campaigns, particularly after a controversial AI-generated video featuring Jair Bolsonaro.

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The Superior Electoral Court, already for the 2024 elections, included a regulation on artificial intelligence. Now, for 2026, someone could say: 'Ah, but does this prevent its use?' Yes, the Penal Code exists and does not prevent the commission of the crime, but it points out that whoever does it will be held responsible. That is the most important issue. In addition to all the pre-election monitoring, all candidates must be absolutely aware that, if they want to use disinformation mechanisms boosted by artificial intelligence on the eve, it will lead to disqualification.