Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) now requires digital platforms to present detailed plans to combat disinformation and irregular propaganda for the 2026 elections [1].
This move signals a tightening of oversight on big tech companies as the Brazilian government seeks to protect the integrity of the democratic process. With the rise of sophisticated digital manipulation, the TSE aims to ensure platforms are proactively preventing attacks on the electoral system [5].
TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques signed the ordinance on Wednesday, July 29 [1]. The measure forces big tech companies to outline specific strategies to identify and remove illegal campaign content. This follows a series of strategic meetings held earlier this month to align goals between the judiciary and technology firms.
Reports on the timing of these meetings vary. One source said a strategic meeting occurred on July 16 [2], while other reports indicate a series of encounters starting on July 14 [4]. These discussions focused on how platforms can better monitor the spread of falsehoods, and the potential creation of a commission to oversee big tech compliance [5].
The urgency of these measures is driven by evolving technology. Partners of the TSE said that the advancement of artificial intelligence and the shifting political stances of big tech companies will make disinformation in the 2026 elections a problem that is more difficult to monitor and combat than in previous contests [6].
Beyond the requirement for combat plans, the TSE is evaluating rules to force platforms to prevent attacks on the election and is considering a formal body to supervise these companies [5]. This represents a shift toward a more interventionist approach to digital governance during election cycles in Brazil.
“The TSE now requires digital platforms to present detailed plans to combat disinformation and irregular propaganda for the 2026 elections.”
The TSE's mandate reflects a growing global trend of judicial intervention in social media moderation during elections. By requiring proactive plans rather than reactive removals, Brazil is attempting to shift the burden of proof onto platforms to demonstrate they are actively protecting the electoral process from AI-generated disinformation and coordinated influence campaigns.
