Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Erika Hilton seeks inquiry into tech companies’ role in Brazil’s elections
Brazilian lawmaker Erika Hilton has filed a request for a congressional inquiry into big tech companies’ conduct during the elections.
She is gathering support in the Chamber of Deputies, where at least 171 signatures are needed to open an inquiry.
The push follows Meta’s admission that technical failures affected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign.
Meta denied political interference, said it fixed the problems quickly and said Flávio Bolsonaro also reported failures.
The Justice Ministry has asked Brazil’s data protection agency and federal prosecutors to examine possible irregularities in Meta’s content moderation.
The inquiry can proceed only if Hilton secures enough signatures, while the government bodies’ examination is also underway.
Erika Hilton said she filed a request on Saturday to create a parliamentary inquiry into major technology companies’ role during Brazil’s elections.
The inquiry would investigate the companies regardless of the election result, she said.
Meta acknowledged that technical failures affected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign, but denied political interference and said the problems were quickly fixed.
Meta also said that Flávio Bolsonaro had reported failures.
Opening an inquiry in the Chamber of Deputies requires at least 171 signatures.
- Who
- Erika Hilton, a federal deputy from PSOL in São Paulo, filed the request.
- What
- She seeks a parliamentary inquiry into major technology companies’ conduct during the elections.
- When
- Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.
- Why
- Hilton said the companies should be investigated over alleged abuses and possible interference in the elections.
Erika Hilton
Meta
Political role
Erika Hilton
Hilton said she was tracking abuses by companies such as Meta and that the elections appeared to be facing interference by foreign billionaires.
Meta
Meta denied political interference in the election.
Technical problems
Erika Hilton
Hilton cited concerns about Meta’s conduct during the election.
Meta
Meta said technical failures affected Lula’s campaign, were quickly fixed, and that Flávio Bolsonaro also reported failures.
Meta acknowledged that technical failures affected Lula’s campaign and denied political interference in the election.
Hilton said she had filed a request to create an inquiry and was collecting signatures.
- Request filed
- October 17, 2026
- Required support
- At least 171 signatures
- Companies cited
- Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp
- Campaign affected
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign
- Inquiry venue
- Chamber of Deputies
What people are saying
technical failures
so that, regardless of the result at the ballot box, big tech companies are investigated
everything indicates that the Brazilian elections are suffering interference by foreign billionaires