Attacks on the opponent using social media content previously gone viral on profiles other than the candidates' official channels and based on lies or distorted information, were used by the campaigns of both Lula (PT) and Jair Bolsonaro (PL) during the election's official electoral broadcast on radio and TV, paid using public funds.
On television, Bolsonaro linked Lula's image to that of inmates during the broadcast on the 11th, after posts came up on October 3 mentioning the PT's supposed victory among imprisoned voters. To do so, he used doctored audio and omitted the fact that convicted inmates cannot vote.
The PT, on the other hand, chose to air on TV old statements by the current president about having discussed a possible abortion with his ex-wife and another from a conversation with a reporter about having almost eaten human flesh. The two statements had previously circulated on unofficial websites and accounts linked to the party.
Although social networks have taken over part of the space previously reserved for television among classes C, D, and E, and the least economically wealthy, this medium, TV, still has great relevance.
When questioned, the candidates' teams did not clarify whether there was coordination between TV and networks. Bolsonaro's campaign declined to comment on the topics addressed, and Lula's did not respond.
Translated by Cassy Dias