AI enters Brazilian politics ahead of 2024 elections

“The 2024 elections are just around the corner, and artificial intelligence is here to revolutionize the game!” promises one ad on Instagram, paid for by a page called “Tática Eleitoral” (literally, Electoral Strategy) and shown to more than 175,000 people in Rio de Janeiro between June 7 and 18, at a cost of less than BRL 500 (USD 104).

Fact-checking agency Aos Fatos identified 16 other ads on the platforms of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads) related to political topics, offering courses, mentorships, lectures, and tools for the use of AI in political campaigns.

These ads accumulated around 360,000 views during the period, at a cost of less than BRL 2,800, and were promoted by six different advertisers. However, Meta’s transparency tool does not provide the exact number of views and cost to advertisers.

Another political marketer trying to sell artificial intelligence-related services to politicians is Marcos Eraldo Arnaud Marques. Also known as “Markinhos Show,” he is no stranger to the news.

During the pandemic, he advised then Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello (now a congressman), who spread misinformation about Covid during his tenure. Mr. Marques was initially targeted by a Senate investigation into the Jair Bolsonaro administration’s response to the pandemic, but his testimony was postponed and then forgotten.

Two years later, the former Health Ministry adviser is now selling courses on political marketing using artificial intelligence. He paid for advertisements offering courses in Belém and Manaus, the capitals of the Amazonian states of Pará and Amazonas, respectively.

Also known as a hypnotist, he worked on the campaigns of three senators in 2022: Sergio Moro in Paraná, Hiran Gonçalves in Roraima, and Lucas Barreto in Amapá, as well as the campaign of Roraima Governor Antônio Denarium — in addition to Mr. Pazuello’s campaign for a House seat.

Mr. Marques told Aos Fatos that he...