VIDEOS: MG2 of Friday, October 16, 2026
Quick Look
- The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) approved new rules that allow linking WhatsApp channels to electoral campaigns, following a series of court injunctions that had suspended the use of the platform for campaign purposes.
- The measure aims to regulate the use of the application in electoral disputes, ensuring transparency and traceability of communications.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The TSE had faced legal challenges over the use of WhatsApp in election campaigns, with injunctions that temporarily suspended the practice due to concerns about misinformation and lack of traceability.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) approved new rules that allow linking WhatsApp channels to electoral campaigns, following a series of court injunctions that had suspended the use of the platform for campaign purposes. The measure aims to regulate the use of the application in electoral disputes, ensuring transparency and traceability of communications.
The decision was taken in a plenary session, after debates on the risks of misinformation and misuse of mass messages during the elections. The new rules establish that channels must be previously registered with the Electoral Court and clearly identified as linked to candidates or parties.
Injunctions that previously blocked the use of WhatsApp were granted by lower courts in lawsuits brought by parties and entities concerned about the potential for the spread of fake news and illegal micro-targeting of voters.
With the approval of the rules, the TSE seeks to balance freedom of expression with the need to combat abuses in the digital environment, especially in a context of increasing use of messaging applications for political mobilization.
Open Questions
- How will the use of linked channels be monitored?
- What sanctions will be applied in case of non-compliance with the rules?
- Will messaging platforms other than WhatsApp be included in the future?
