The Federal District Regional Electoral Court orders Meta to remove sensitive content warnings from posts supporting candidate Leandro Grass on Instagram.
The electoral justice system has once again intervened in the moderation of digital platforms during the campaign period.
The Federal District Regional Electoral Court (TRE-DF) issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the coalition of candidate Leandro Grass (PV/PT), demanding that the company Meta remove restrictive tags applied to voter comments.
The measure aims to ensure a level playing field in the election and guarantee that electoral advertising circulates without algorithmic interference considered abusive.
The decision reinforces scrutiny over social media guidelines during decisive moments for national and local politics.
Impact of Social Media Moderation
The controversy began when legitimate expressions of support, such as direct mentions of campaign numbers and political slogans, were hidden under the guise of displaying sensitive content.
According to the process’s rapporteur, the application of generic filters without technical justification compromises the transparency of the election.
The judicial determination establishes that the tech giant must immediately undo the restrictions.
Furthermore, the company is prohibited from repeating the practice of applying automatic tags to political content that does not violate current electoral rules.
The Court determined:
The restriction directly affects the equality and free circulation of electoral advertising on digital platforms, requiring rigor in the oversight of moderation criteria.
Deadlines and Penalties Stipulated
In addition to restoring the visibility of supporters’ messages, the court order imposes technical obligations on the company responsible for Instagram.
A detailed report on the reach of the affected posts and the parameters used in filtering must be submitted to the competent authorities.
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in heavy financial sanctions for the big tech company.
A daily fine of R$ 5,000 was stipulated in case of non-compliance with the deadlines set by the court.
This episode echoes similar discussions held within the scope of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), involving presidential campaigns.
The scenario highlights the ongoing challenge for courts in balancing freedom of expression, the fight against disinformation, and the neutrality of technological tools during elections.