Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Brazil’s election court sets rules for campaign-linked WhatsApp channels
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court approved new rules for political messaging channels on October 16.
The rules apply to WhatsApp channels and other digital spaces, and change the country’s existing election advertising regulations.
A channel can be linked to a campaign if there is evidence of campaign funding, staff or technology, promotion through official accounts, coordinated activity, or influence over its content.
Any one verified criterion can establish a campaign link, and channels that meet the test must be registered with the electoral authority.
Independent supporters are not automatically covered just because they express political support or share material already made public by a campaign.
The rules follow disputes over the “Exército do Lula” WhatsApp channel, run by federal deputy André Janones, which was suspended and then allowed to resume.
The new criteria clarify when campaign rules apply to such channels, including rules on election content; repeated publication of prohibited content may lead to a channel being taken offline.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court unanimously approved rules for deciding when WhatsApp channels and other online spaces are linked to election campaigns.
The rules amend the court’s existing regulations on electoral advertising and require channels found to be linked to campaigns to be reported to the Electoral Court.
A channel can be considered linked if there is verifiable evidence of campaign funding, material or technical support, promotion, coordination or influence over its content.
Independent expressions of political support, isolated recommendations and occasional appearances by candidates do not by themselves establish a campaign link.
The decision follows disputes over the WhatsApp channel “Exército do Lula,” administered by federal lawmaker André Janones.
- Who
- Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), with a proposal reported by Justice André Mendonça.
- What
- The court unanimously approved criteria for determining when digital channels are linked to election campaigns. Qualifying channels must be reported to the Electoral Court.
- When
- Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- To define which channels have a verifiable relationship with campaigns and must follow electoral advertising rules.
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TSE president Kassio Nunes Marques ordered the “Exército do Lula” WhatsApp channel taken offline; another court decision later allowed it to return.
Nunes Marques again suspended the channel and made its return conditional on registration with the Electoral Court within 48 hours.
The channel was fully restored.
The TSE unanimously approved criteria for linking online channels to election campaigns.
- Court
- Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE)
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Rules amended
- Resolution No. 23.610/2019
- Rapporteur
- Justice André Mendonça
- Channel at center of dispute
- Exército do Lula,” administered by André Janones
- Registration
- Campaign-linked channels must be reported to the Electoral Court