Elections & Democracy
Jair Bolsonaro denies authorizing deepfake video
Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro denied authorizing the use of his image and voice in an AI-generated video endorsing his son Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy in October elections.
The denial came in a response from Bolsonaro's lawyers to Brazil's Supreme Court, which had demanded an explanation after the deepfake appeared at Flavio Bolsonaro's official campaign launch on Saturday.
Jair Bolsonaro “did not authorize the use of his image and voice for the production of the artificial intelligence-generated video,” his response said. He added, however, that he had never objected to his children using his image for political activities because of what he described as the natural bond of trust between father and children.
The AI-generated replica of Bolsonaro told supporters: “This is a simulation of my image and voice created using artificial intelligence. As everyone here knows, I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust decision.” It then asked them to welcome Flavio Bolsonaro as the person he had chosen to replace him.
Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes said authorizing the video could be a “serious violation” of the conditions of Jair Bolsonaro's house arrest. Moraes also warned that Flavio Bolsonaro may have violated Brazilian electoral laws that prohibit the use of deepfakes to harm or favor a candidacy, even with authorization.
Moraes said using Jair Bolsonaro's image could mislead voters into thinking the former president was taking part in the campaign and could “constitute a clear instance of electoral disinformation.”
Jair Bolsonaro, 71, is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing Brazil's 2022 election. He is barred from using social media or mobile phones and from making public statements.
On July 13, the Supreme Court barred Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting his father until after the first round of the election, after he read out a handwritten letter from Jair Bolsonaro on social media.
Flavio Bolsonaro is the main rival to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term in office.
Update
Jair Bolsonaro denied authorizing the use of his image and voice for the AI-generated video.
Bolsonaro told the court through his lawyers that he had never objected to his children using his image for political activities because of what he called a natural bond of trust between father and children.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes warned that Flavio Bolsonaro may have violated electoral laws that prohibit deepfakes to harm or favor a candidacy, even with authorization.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 20:45:04 UTC.
Update
Brazil's Supreme Court demanded an explanation from Jair Bolsonaro after an AI-generated version of him appeared in a video backing Flavio Bolsonaro.
The court gave Jair Bolsonaro's defense team 48 hours to explain whether the image was created with his consent.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes said consent could constitute a serious violation of Jair Bolsonaro's house-arrest conditions.
De Moraes said that, if Jair Bolsonaro did not approve the video, Flavio Bolsonaro may have violated electoral law on deepfakes of public figures.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 July 2026 at 15:36:40 UTC.
Update
Argentina's President Javier Milei attended the Liberal Party convention in person and spoke in support of Flavio Bolsonaro.
Flavio Bolsonaro said Brazil could move toward dictatorship if Lula wins reelection, while Milei said he believed Flavio was capable of ending what he called the Lula risk.
Supporters at the Sao Paulo convention wore Brazilian national team jerseys, beat drums and waved flags.
Datafolha published a survey showing Lula ahead of Flavio Bolsonaro by 48 percent to 43 percent in a possible runoff.
A Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into financing of a film about Jair Bolsonaro after a leaked recording involving banker Daniel Vorcaro.
Michelle Bolsonaro publicly accused Flavio Bolsonaro of disrespecting and mistreating her, and later accepted his apology.
A Supreme Court justice barred Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting Jair Bolsonaro until after the first round of voting after Flavio read out a letter from his father on social media.
A Brazilian diplomatic source said visas had been denied to US officials seeking election-related talks because of concern about political exploitation; a US State Department spokesperson rejected that suggestion.
The source says key centrist parties plan to remain neutral in the October 4 election and that Flavio Bolsonaro has faced backlash over new US tariffs on Brazil.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 22:58:54 UTC.
Update
Flavio Bolsonaro is 45 and was nominated by Brazil's right-wing Liberal Party as its October presidential candidate.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is 80 and is seeking a fourth term.
Jair Bolsonaro anointed Flavio Bolsonaro as his political heir after receiving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 election loss.
Flavio Bolsonaro and Argentine President Javier Milei made speeches at the Sao Paulo convention.
Jair Bolsonaro appeared in an AI-generated video, while courts have barred him from making political statements during house arrest.
Datafolha published a survey showing Lula leading Flavio Bolsonaro 48 percent to 43 percent in a runoff scenario.
A Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into financing for a film about Jair Bolsonaro after a leaked recording involving banker Daniel Vorcaro.
Michelle Bolsonaro publicly accused Flavio Bolsonaro of disrespecting and mistreating her, before accepting his apology.
A Supreme Court justice blocked Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting his father until after the first round of voting.
A Brazilian diplomatic source said visas were denied to US officials seeking talks with election officials because of concern about political exploitation.
Flavio Bolsonaro has faced backlash after the Trump administration imposed two new rounds of tariffs on Brazil this month.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 20:03:53 UTC.
Update
Flavio Bolsonaro said, "Bolsonaro's blood flows here," while touching his arm at the convention.
The source describes Jair Bolsonaro as imprisoned and says he has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after his 2022 election loss to Lula.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 17:31:04 UTC.
Update
Javier Milei spoke at the Liberal Party convention in Sao Paulo.
The convention formally nominated Flavio Bolsonaro as a presidential candidate.
Milei said he believed no one else was capable of ending what he called the "Lula risk" over Brazil.
The source describes Flavio Bolsonaro as the son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 16:59:19 UTC.
Update
Argentina's Milei backed Flavio Bolsonaro's election bid.
Milei warned of a 'Lula risk'.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 16:49:32 UTC.
Update
The Liberal Party was set to officially name Flavio Bolsonaro at a convention in Sao Paulo.
Supporters at the convention wore Brazil national team jerseys, beat drums and waved flags near Pacaembu Stadium.
A Datafolha survey published Friday put Lula ahead of Flavio Bolsonaro by 48 percent to 43 percent in a possible runoff.
A Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into the financing of a film about Jair Bolsonaro.
A Supreme Court justice blocked Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting Jair Bolsonaro until after the first round of voting after Flavio read out a unity letter from his father on social media.
Flavio Bolsonaro posted a video apologizing to Michelle Bolsonaro, who accepted the gesture.
Key centrist parties said they would remain neutral in the October 4 election.
Flavio Bolsonaro faced backlash after the Trump administration imposed two new rounds of tariffs on Brazil this month.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 July 2026 at 15:49:32 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It remains unclear who authorized or produced the AI-generated video.
The court has not issued a final ruling in the deepfake matter.
Whether Flavio Bolsonaro violated electoral law has not been determined.
Source
AFP news report published on .