# Meta election disinformation and moderation scrutiny

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/meta-election-disinformation-and-moderation-scrutiny
> Updated: 2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 40. Developments: 2.

Meta continues to face scrutiny regarding its ability to manage election-related disinformation and safeguard democratic processes. 

In the United States, a group of 19 lawmakers criticized the company for discontinuing its third-party fact-checking program in favor of a user-driven feature called Community Notes. Lawmakers expressed concern that an increasing reliance on artificial intelligence could leave voters vulnerable to deepfakes and synthetic influencers. 

In Brazil, Amnesty International has reported significant failures in Meta’s advertising moderation systems ahead of the 2026 presidential elections. In a test involving 15 mock advertisements in Portuguese, the organization found that more than half were accepted for publication. While some were flagged for identity verification, none were explicitly rejected for containing disinformation. The mock ads utilized strategies such as electoral delegitimization, the construction of political enemies, and calls for security-focused authoritarianism. Jurema Werneck, Executive Director of Amnesty International Brazil, previously stated that these failures are ‘deeply alarming’. Amnesty International has further expressed concern that Meta is not doing enough to prevent its platform from being used as a vector for disinformation while continuing to profit from its advertising systems.

Simultaneously, the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE) is addressing the rise of AI-generated content. Minister André Mendonça has proposed a new legal criterion to define deepfakes based on their ability to create a false perception of authenticity through high levels of realism. This follows an order to remove an AI-generated video falsely linking candidate Flávio Bolsonaro to businessman Daniel Vorcaro. The TSE is currently debating how to distinguish between prohibited deepfakes and permitted synthetic content, such as memes or caricatures. To combat broader threats, the Brazilian Senate continues to operate ‘Senado Verifica’, an official service for fact-checking and media education in partnership with the TSE.

## Claims

- Meta's advertising systems may be failing to protect the integrity of Brazil's upcoming presidential election. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Amnesty International submitted 15 mock advertisements in Brazilian Portuguese to Facebook to test moderation. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Eight of the submitted disinformation ads were accepted for publication by Meta. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- Seven of the submitted ads were flagged for identity verification rather than being rejected for disinformation. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- The mock ads included themes of electoral delegitimization, enemy construction, and security-focused authoritarianism. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- André Mendonça proposed a criterion to define deepfakes as AI-generated content with a level of realism capable of creating a false perception of authenticity. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- André Mendonça ordered the removal of an AI-generated video linking Flávio Bolsonaro to Daniel Vorcaro. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The TSE approved rules on the use of artificial intelligence during the general elections in October. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The Brazilian presidential election is scheduled for 4 October 2026. (corroborated by 10 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-25: Brazil election: Meta fails to detect mock disinformation ads

Amnesty International reports that Meta's Facebook failed to detect over half of mock disinformation ads in a Brazilian election test. Meanwhile, Brazil's TSE is defining legal criteria for deepfakes.

40 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/amnesty-international-warns-meta-fails-to-detect-election-disinformation

### 2026-08-18: Meta election safeguards criticized by US lawmakers

Nineteen US lawmakers have criticized Meta’s election safeguards as inadequate, warning that reduced fact-checking and increased AI reliance could expose voters to deepfakes before the 2026 elections.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meta-election-safeguards-criticized-by-19-us-lawmakers

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Cite as: Meta election disinformation and moderation scrutiny. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/meta-election-disinformation-and-moderation-scrutiny