Flavio Bolsonaro campaign faces foreign funding probe

Brazil's Supreme Court ordered police on Tuesday to investigate alleged foreign funding of defeated right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro's election campaign, as well as possible foreign interference through social media.

Justice Flavio Dino ordered an investigation into “the possible origin, circulation and destination of foreign resources” during the campaign. He also ordered police to examine alleged “algorithmic manipulation” by internet companies that could have favoured or harmed candidates in Brazil's election.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 81, won re-election on Sunday after a bitter campaign. Bolsonaro has not conceded defeat and has vowed to challenge Lula's victory in court.

Dino cited press reports and allegations from political parties in ordering the investigation. Lula's campaign has accused Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, of election interference through algorithmic manipulation.

Meta denies taking action to favour one side. It has previously said some Lula campaign ads were mistakenly deactivated because of technical errors.

Dino also cited Meta's oversight board, which said before the election that it had found content moderation failures, including over-enforcement that suppressed political speech and under-enforcement that undermined electoral integrity.