The decision mandates an inquiry into alleged covert campaign financing operations, election-related advertising paid for from abroad, and the potential manipulation of digital platform algorithms to favor or disadvantage specific candidacies.

Judge Dino took this action following a request from the Workers’ Party (PT), within the context of a legal proceeding concerning national sovereignty and the application of foreign laws and rulings on Brazilian territory.

Among the matters to be clarified are the alleged activities of businessmen Tallis Gomes and Pedro Sang, who reportedly acted on behalf of the U.S.-based organization Rockbridge Network to raise funds for the presidential campaign of Jair Bolsonaro—the candidate defeated in the runoff election two days ago.

According to Agencia Brasil, the investigation will also seek to identify those responsible for paying for election-related advertisements disseminated by accounts based abroad, as well as the origin of those funds and the potential involvement of Brazilian individuals or entities.

Based on documentation cited by the justice, certain posts in Portuguese featured forecasts favorable to Jair Bolsonaro on Polymarket—a prediction market platform that has been blocked in Brazil since 2024.

Another focus of the inquiry concerns the operation of digital platforms owned by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

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