Brazil's Electoral Court Fines Meta $1.3 Million in Case Over Unequal Treatment of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro - Folha de S.Paulo

Brazil's TSE (Superior Electoral Court) ordered Meta on Tuesday night (10) to pay a R$7.5 million ($1.3 million) fine for failing to take measures to ensure equal treatment of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro on social media during the presidential election. The decision was unanimous.

The reporting judge, Marco Aurélio Bellizze, said the fine was not imposed because of deliberate favoritism toward Flávio, but because of failure to comply with court orders. According to him, the proceedings did not establish any intention to benefit or harm a candidacy. However, the company failed to report the measures it had taken within 48 hours and only suspended 7,068 irregular ads after the deadline. Another 1,530 records lacked the required information.

In a statement, Meta said it "complies with Brazilian electoral law and applies the same rules to all candidates and parties" and would continue "presenting the facts and defending ourselves against false allegations in ongoing proceedings."