Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will analyze and vote on proposals to limit the use of deepfakes and artificial intelligence in electoral materials [1, 2].
These measures aim to protect the integrity of the 2026 elections [2] by preventing the spread of manipulated propaganda that could mislead voters. As AI tools become more accessible, the court faces increasing pressure from the judiciary to establish clear boundaries for digital campaigning.
The voting period for these resolutions took place in March 2026 [2]. The ministers are evaluating specific restrictions on how AI-generated content can be used in political advertisements, and the penalties for failing to disclose such technology [1, 2].
The urgency of these regulations follows a series of incidents involving synthetic media. Specifically, a deepfake video featuring Jair Bolsonaro—which surfaced on Saturday the 25th—reignited the national debate over early electoral propaganda and the capabilities of AI to distort public perception [3].
While the TSE seeks to curb disinformation, the court must balance these restrictions with freedom of expression. The proposed rules focus on the dissemination of manipulated content that could deceive the electorate during the official campaign period [1, 3].
Judicial pressure has mounted to ensure that the 2026 cycle does not suffer from the same volatility seen in previous years. By codifying the limits of AI usage, the TSE intends to create a legal framework that can be enforced in real time as candidates deploy new technologies [2, 3].
“The TSE will analyze and vote on proposals to limit the use of deepfakes and artificial intelligence.”
The TSE's move signals a shift toward proactive regulation of generative AI in democratic processes. By targeting deepfakes specifically, Brazil is attempting to prevent 'synthetic disinformation' from influencing voter behavior, setting a potential legal precedent for how other nations handle AI in high-stakes elections.
