NetLab flagged 1,613 allegedly irregular political ads on Meta in Brazil.
Why it matters: The findings raise questions about election-ad transparency, foreign funding and Meta's enforcement in Brazil. They do not identify the operation's ultimate funder or establish government involvement.
- The ads ran from July through September 2026 and mentioned 70 candidates.
- The 1,613 ads involved 187 advertisers and about R$2 million in estimated spending.
- Of 1,076 ads with payer-location data, 98.1% listed a payer location in the United States - not necessarily where the ads originated.
- Folha reported that the ads generated an estimated 171.1 million impressions.
NetLab UFRJ said it identified 1,613 political ads on Meta platforms that promoted or attacked candidates and were paid for from abroad or by actors without authorization to advertise in Brazil. Here, political ads means promotions concerning candidates or other political actors. The ads ran from July through September 2026, sometimes promoting candidates in contradictory ways.
Folha reported that the ads represented about R$2 million in estimated spending by 187 advertisers, were mostly paid in US dollars and mentioned 70 candidates. Folha also reported an estimated 171.1 million impressions.
Among 1,076 ads that contained payer-location data - the location disclosed for the person or entity paying for an ad - 98.1% listed the United States. That information does not establish where an ad originated or who created it. Other listed locations included Italy, Mexico, Bangladesh and Colombia.
Corporativo Lam accounted for 97.3% of the 1,076 ads with payer information, or approximately 1,047 ads. In a separate Lupa review of 1,006 ads, Corporativo Lam was the listed advertiser and payer in 710. The figures use different datasets and denominators: NetLab's 1,076-ad payer-information group versus Lupa's separately examined 1,006-ad sample. Neither finding identifies the operation's ultimate funder.
NetLab said the ads initially lacked adequate political-content labels. It said many were later recategorized, meaning Meta changed their classification, or removed after circulating. Folha reported that Meta said it identified and later recategorized or removed ads that violated its policies, while noting that part of the July-September period preceded the official campaign.
The cited TSE Resolution 23.610/2019 addresses online political advertising, including authorization and transparency requirements. The dossier does not identify a specific 2026 amendment or replacement, so the 2019 text should not be treated here as a definitive statement of the operative 2026 rule. The materials also do not specify which exact July-September dates preceded the official campaign or establish whether each alleged violation concerned authorization, labeling or another requirement.
By the numbers
- 1,613 - allegedly irregular political ads identified by NetLab
- 98.1% - share of 1,076 ads with payer-location data listing the United States
- R$2 million - estimated spending reported by Folha
Yes, but: The findings are research allegations, not a regulatory determination. Payer location does not prove ad origin or ultimate funding, and the dossier does not establish the applicable 2026 legal rule for every ad.