Brazil's Electoral Court chief warns AI deepfakes could threaten 2026 elections

Kassio Nunes Marques, president of Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE), said the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence poses a serious challenge for the upcoming 2026 general elections. He warned that AI can generate “technically optimized lies” and deepfake videos that could distort voters’ perception and manipulate the democratic process.

Nunes Marques announced that the TSE has approved new rules specifically targeting the use of AI in the electoral context. Among the measures is a prohibition on the circulation of deepfake content featuring candidates from 72 hours before to 24 hours after voting. The court had already banned deepfakes in elections, but the new temporal restriction aims to prevent surprise misinformation during the most critical period.

The minister emphasized the need for transparent, proportional controls and called for collaboration between the electoral justice system, academia, specialists, and civil society to safeguard the integrity of the vote. He stressed that AI could strengthen democracy if governed responsibly, but could erode trust if left unchecked.