With the Brazilian presidential run-off election approaching, the campaigns of incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have escalated their legal battles by seeking to disqualify one another. According to court filings and campaign officials, both sides have accused the other of improper conduct regarding social media usage and election interference.

Lula da Silva’s campaign announced plans to request the disqualification of Flavio Bolsonaro, citing alleged interference by the technology company Meta. In response to this move, the Bolsonaro campaign initiated a counter-filing against Lula da Silva. The legal maneuvers reflect a broader, increasingly contentious atmosphere surrounding the final days of the campaign. While the SCMP report notes that both candidates are utilizing the judicial system to challenge the legitimacy of their opponent's candidacy, it does not detail the specific evidence provided by either side to support these claims of 'social media malfeasance.' The filings represent a significant shift in the campaign's final phase, moving from traditional political debate to direct attempts to remove rivals from the ballot through the electoral court system.