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Brazil’s Left Alliance Asks TSE to Remove AI ‘Dona Maria’ Profiles Over Alleged Election Violations

The case will test Brazil’s new election rules for AI-created political content.

Overview

  • The PT, PV and PCdoB federation, which filed a complaint with the Superior Electoral Court on Wednesday, seeks the immediate suspension of the Dona Maria accounts on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and X.
  • The parties allege disinformation, missing AI labels required by election rules, use of an anonymous persona, and early campaigning against Lula paired with praise for Jair Bolsonaro.
  • Reporting identifies the operator as app driver Daniel Cristiano dos Santos of Magé (RJ), and analytics cited by O Globo show roughly 102.1 million Instagram views for the profile’s videos.
  • Instagram removed one widely viewed video for profanity, and the filing asks platforms to identify who runs the accounts and disclose any monetization tied to the pages.
  • The outcome could shape how the TSE enforces 2026 rules that require clear AI labeling and steps to block the reupload or replication of content deemed illicit.