Brazil Supreme Court mandates free data access for voters

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has reached a majority decision to ensure free mobile data access for voters during the 2026 elections. Following a preliminary injunction by Minister Cristiano Zanin, the ruling requires the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to guarantee that users on prepaid plans can access specific services without consuming their data quotas.

The mandate covers the 72 hours preceding voting and the 24 hours following each round. Access is granted to the e-Título app, official Electoral Justice services, and partner fact-checking agencies. This measure aims to allow citizens to verify voting locations, candidate information, and combat the spread of disinformation.

Advocates have highlighted that millions of Brazilians face monthly data exhaustion, which disproportionately affects lower-income individuals. Critics argue that when data limits are reached, users are often restricted to specific platforms via commercial agreements, limiting their ability to access professional journalism and diverse information sources. The court noted that access to reliable information is essential for political participation and the legitimacy of the electoral process.