Berliner Tageblatt - Brazil court scrutinizes Jair Bolsonaro deepfake endorsing son

The former leader is barred from making public statements as he serves a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing Brazil's last election in 2022.

However, as Flavio Bolsonaro officially launched his candidacy on Saturday, a deepfake video of his father was screened at the Liberal Party convention.

"This is a simulation of my image and voice created using artificial intelligence. As everyone here knows, I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust decision," said the digital replica of Bolsonaro.

"I ask you to welcome with open arms the person I chose to replace me -- blood of my blood, my son Flavio," said the deepfake.

In a ruling published Tuesday night, the court gave the former president's defense team 48 hours to explain whether the image was created with his consent.

If it was, it could constitute a "serious violation" of the conditions of his house arrest, said justice Alexandre de Moraes.

If the former president did not approve the video, Flavio Bolsonaro may have violated Brazil's electoral law, which prohibits the creation of deepfakes of public figures to convey political messages without their authorization, he added.

Jair Bolsonaro, 71, served several months in prison before being allowed in March to be confined under house arrest due to health issues.

He is not allowed to use social media, mobile phones or make public statements.

On July 13, the Supreme Court barred Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting his father until after the first round of the election, after he read out a handwritten letter from Jair Bolsonaro on social media.

Flavio Bolsonaro is the main rival to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

K.Brown--BTB