Jayapal, Sanders Demand Answers on Meta’s Potential Interference in Brazilian Elections

SEATTLE, W.A. - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are demanding answers from Meta Platforms, Inc. following credible reports of Meta restricting or suppressing content associated with the campaign of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva while amplifying or recommending content associated with the campaign of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, thereby creating starkly unequal conditions in the digital environment.

"Given the critical role social media plays in political communication, it is unacceptable for any social media platform to favor one political candidate or party over another, whether deliberately or inadvertently," wrote the Members. "As U.S. lawmakers who support free and fair elections at home and abroad, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight to ensure that U.S. social media platforms are not influencing the outcomes of elections abroad. We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that, going forward, candidates and their campaigns in democratic elections receive equal treatment and access on your platforms."

On September 23, the Lula campaign's Facebook advertising account was disabled unilaterally and without explanation, just 11 days before the first round of voting on October 4. From October 9 to October 10, Meta prevented the Lula campaign from paying to boost ads published on its Instagram account for nearly 24 hours. On October 20, Meta claimed that it had "completed the implementation of measures" to comply with orders from Brazil's Superior Electoral Court after being fined twice for noncompliance with Brazilian election law. Brazil's second round of elections will be on October 25.

"With Brazil's runoff elections occurring in less than a week, we call for further clarification of these 'measures' and urge additional action to ensure that, going forward, candidates in democratic elections at home and abroad benefit from an even playing field on Meta's platforms," continued the Members.

The full text of the letter can be read here.

The letter was also signed by Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security, Science, Technology, & Antitrust