Meta says it is taking measures after flaw allowed “Flávio 22” but blocked “Lula 13”
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Tests by Tecnoblog and g1 found different responses from Meta AI on WhatsApp: the tool generated images with “Flávio 22” but rejected prompts with “Lula 13” and, in some tests, with “Flávio Bolsonaro 22” as well. According to Tecnoblog, Meta treated the case as a configuration error in filters for candidates’ first names and said it had taken measures to also block combinations using a first name and the ballot number. g1 managed to generate an image of Lula after several attempts; on Meta AI’s website, the outlet’s tests rejected campaign requests for both candidates.
Meta told g1 that it had temporarily prohibited candidate recommendations and the generation of images of them to comply with Brazilian election rules. Resolution No. 23.755/2026 from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) prohibits automated systems from favoring or disadvantaging candidates. Even after Meta’s statement, some users still reported being able to generate campaign images, g1 said.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
The case illustrates how automated filters can apply electoral rules inconsistently to different combinations of names and numbers. Meta’s statement that it took measures, alongside reports that some images could still be generated, also highlights the difficulty of verifying compliance with these restrictions in practice.
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