What is allowed and what is not? 

The 2026 General Elections mark the first electoral cycle in which specific rules for the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns have been established. Since 2018, combating disinformation has become a priority for the Electoral Court. Now, the challenge has expanded, and institutions must pay attention to technological advancements in the face of the balance of democratic competition. 

In March, new rules for this scenario were approved by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), and among the main points is the regulation of the use of content produced or altered by artificial intelligence. 

What changes with the new resolutions? 

The updates to TSE Resolution No. 23,610 of 2019 address electoral propaganda and seek to increase transparency regarding the use of AI in campaigns. Under the new rule, content created or artificially modified – texts, videos, images, or audio – must clearly state that it uses artificial intelligence or derivatives in its production. 

This measure aims to prevent voters from being misled by manipulated or decontextualized content, considering that we are facing a digital environment marked by the speed of misinformation and the growing use of deepfakes. 

Another relevant point of the new resolutions is the restriction on the circulation of AI-altered content close to the election and for a few hours after the vote. In other words, the publication or republication of this type of material will not be permitted in the 72 hours preceding the election and in the 24 hours following the election. 

In case of non-compliance, the platforms must immediately remove the content and are subject to a court order to do so, in addition to the possibility of fines being imposed as provided for in electoral legislation. 

AI, ethics, and responsibility in public debate. 

The resolutions approved by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) within the scope of regulating the use of AI are part of a set of... 14 standards These rules serve to regulate the 2026 General Elections. They guide candidates, parties, federations, voters, and electors on rules related to electoral campaigning, the election calendar, accountability, the functioning of the electoral process, and other topics. 

In the case of artificial intelligence, the debate goes beyond the technology itself. The discussion involves responsibility in political communication, transparency, and preserving public trust in elections.

With the official start of the election campaign scheduled for August 16, the topic is expected to gain even more relevance in the public debate — especially given the rapid advancement of content creation tools and the growing need for media literacy and fact-checking.

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