TSE revives body to track AI risks and disinformation in 2026 elections

Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has restructured an advisory body established in 2017 to specifically address the growing threats of disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence in the upcoming 2026 elections. The TSE, under the presidency of Minister Kassio Nunes Marques, aims to enhance its monitoring capabilities for these evolving challenges.

The newly reformed council, named the Consultative Council on Informational Integrity and Elections 2026, will serve in an advisory capacity to the TSE president. While it will not have decision-making power, its recommendations are intended to strengthen preventative measures and strategies against electoral disinformation. This initiative represents a significant expansion of the council's original mandate, which was created by former court president Minister Gilmar Mendes to examine the internet's influence on elections and the spread of fake news.

This is the first iteration of the council to focus explicitly on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Its responsibilities will now encompass monitoring AI-driven content manipulation, the coordinated dissemination of false or decontextualized information, and other digital threats. Minister Kassio has identified disinformation as a key challenge for the Electoral Justice system, emphasizing the importance of addressing it during his inauguration speech on May 12.

The TSE is also paying close attention to artificial intelligence, having recently implemented rules that prohibit deepfakes, unauthorized videos and audio that mimic candidates or public figures, and restrict the use of bots in voter outreach. Potential risks mapped by the court include the dissemination of non-consensual intimate imagery (a form of political gender-based violence), the use of artificially created influencers, and the potential misuse of smart glasses by voters. The council will also study and propose measures to bolster the "informational integrity of the electoral process," aiding the presidency in safeguarding the legitimacy, normality, and transparency of elections.