Flavio Bolsonaro cleared over AI video of father

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro was cleared Tuesday of a possible electoral-law violation after showing an AI-generated video of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, endorsing him.

A left-wing coalition supporting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's re-election had accused Flavio Bolsonaro of breaching a ban on using AI-generated replicas of real people in political campaigns.

The Superior Electoral Court ruled five to two that the convention where the video was shown took place before the official start of the election season, Justice Kassio Nunes Marques said.

The video was screened in July as Flavio Bolsonaro launched his candidacy for October's election. In it, a digital replica of Jair Bolsonaro said it was a simulation of his image and voice made with artificial intelligence and asked supporters to back his son.

Jair Bolsonaro's lawyers said he did not authorize the AI-generated video.

The former president, 71, served several months in prison for attempting a coup before being moved to home confinement in March for health reasons. He is barred from using social media, mobile phones or making public statements.

Brazil's first-round presidential vote is scheduled for October 4. Recent polls show Lula with a slight lead.