Ricardo Salles fined by TRE-SP for illegal electoral propaganda
The Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) has fined federal deputy Ricardo Salles (Novo) a total of R$ 10,000 for irregular early electoral propaganda and the illicit boosting of negative content. The decision follows a complaint by the PL party regarding a video Salles published on Instagram targeting his Senate rival, state deputy André do Prado (PL).
Judge Claudia Fonseca Fanucchi ruled that the video utilized digitally manipulated images—including one depicting Prado as a puppet controlled by a party leader—without the legally required explicit warnings regarding the use of artificial intelligence or synthetic content. The court also found that the paid boosting of the video was not intended for Salles's positive self-promotion, but rather to artificially amplify a message designed to disqualify his opponent.
Salles's defense argued the material constituted legitimate political satire and caricature. However, the judge maintained that the lack of transparency regarding the use of manipulated media violated electoral regulations, particularly since the boosting was used to spread a predominantly derogatory message against a potential competitor.
Entities: André do Prado · Novo · PL · Ricardo Salles · TRE-SP · Tribunal Regional Eleitoral de São Paulo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) fined Ricardo Salles R$ 10,000. (TRE-SP (Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo))
- [● 3 SOURCES] In the video, Salles claimed André do Prado 'never was, is not, and never will be a right-wing candidate.' (Ricardo Salles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The video failed to provide explicit information that the images were fabricated or digitally manipulated. (Claudia Fonseca Fanucchi)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The fine consists of two R$ 5,000 penalties: one for irregular early electoral propaganda and another for illegal boosting of negative political content. (Claudia Fonseca Fanucchi)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The video used digitally manipulated or fabricated images to portray André do Prado as a puppet controlled by a party leader. (Claudia Fonseca Fanucchi)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Salles' defense argued the images were political caricatures and that the publication was a legitimate exercise of criticism. (Ricardo Salles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Paid boosting was used to artificially amplify a message that was predominantly negative toward a political opponent. (Claudia Fonseca Fanucchi)