Brazilian court orders Meta to restore suspended student Instagram accounts

A Federal Court in Porto Alegre has ordered Meta to restore several Instagram accounts belonging to student organizations in Rio Grande do Sul within two days. The accounts, which include entities from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), were suspended simultaneously on October 6 without prior notice or justification.

The suspensions occurred after the accounts posted content calling for university assemblies and public demonstrations in support of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's reelection. The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) filed a civil public action, alleging that the suspensions constitute censorship and could hinder student organization and access to free legal assistance.

Separately, users have reported widespread account suspensions on Instagram, claiming they lost access after sharing political content or images of demonstrations. While Meta has denied interference in Brazilian elections and stated that its rules are applied independently, the sudden blocks have raised concerns regarding moderation systems and potential political bias.