Brazilian court orders removal of AI-generated political attack video
A Brazilian electoral court ordered the removal of an AI-generated video depicting São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas as a killer doll character, finding indications of negative electoral propaganda and irregular AI use. The PT-affiliated creator and party contested the ruling, arguing the video is satire and denying responsibility for its distribution.
What happened
The Tribunal Regional Eleitoral de São Paulo (TRE-SP) issued an interim order on 1 July 2026 requiring removal of a video depicting São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) as the killer doll character Chucky.
The video was posted on Instagram by state deputy Emídio de Souza (PT) and allegedly reproduced by PT organs. According to the Republicanos party, the video constructs a 'narrative of political terror', showing Freitas fused to the Chucky character walking with a tricycle before an explosion associated with Sabesp, breaking a car window, alongside scenes of feminicide reports and São Paulo in flames, beginning with former president Jair Bolsonaro in a press conference.
Reported impact
Auxiliary judge Domitila Manssur found indications of negative electoral propaganda and irregular use of artificial intelligence in the video.
Tarcísio's pre-campaign stated the decision confirms that 'electoral debate should be conducted with ideas, proposals and comparison of trajectories, not offensive, degrading or personally attacking pieces', and vowed to continue pursuing legal action against such content.
Index analysis
The PT argued that the action lacks conditions to proceed and that the party did not disseminate the video on social networks. The PT stated that the Republicanos action contained no prints or evidence linking the party to the material, whose production origin is unknown, and that the piece qualifies as satire without potential to mislead the public and contains no request for votes.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.