The legal team for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) that he did not authorize an AI-generated video [1].

This move seeks to protect the former president from legal liability regarding the use of artificial intelligence in political campaigning while shifting political exposure toward his son, Flávio Bolsonaro [1].

The AI-generated content was displayed during a Liberal Party (PL) convention. This event served as the official nomination of Flávio Bolsonaro as a presidential candidate [1]. By informing Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the STF that the image was unauthorized, the defense team said it aims to shield Jair Bolsonaro from potential sanctions related to the video's production, or distribution [1].

The communication targets a specific legal vulnerability regarding the use of synthetic media in elections. The defense strategy separates the former president's image from the campaign activities of his son [1].

Minister Alexandre de Moraes has a long history of overseeing electoral integrity in Brazil. He commanded the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) during the 2022 [2] elections. Moraes later left the TSE in June 2024 [2].

The use of AI in political campaigns has become a point of contention for Brazilian judicial authorities. The STF and TSE have previously issued guidelines to prevent the use of deceptive synthetic content that could mislead voters. The defense's decision to distance Jair Bolsonaro from the PL convention video suggests a strategy to avoid the scrutiny of Moraes and other judicial officials [1].

“Jair Bolsonaro did not authorize the use of his image in an artificial‑intelligence‑generated video”

This legal maneuver highlights the growing tension between campaign innovation and judicial regulation of AI in Brazil. By distancing the former president from the content, the defense is attempting to prevent a legal precedent that could lead to his disqualification or further penalties, while simultaneously leaving Flávio Bolsonaro to manage the political fallout of the AI usage.