Presidential candidate Haddad says rival committed “attempted fraud”
Fernando Haddad, presidential hopeful with the Workers’ Party (PT), mentioned the recent allegations concerning executives who allegedly finance the spread of fake messages on WhatsApp, describing the actions as “attempted electoral fraud.” To support him, a number of jurists filed a motion with over 1.5 thousand signatures.
The allegations were made known by the headlines of an article published by daily Folha de S. Paulo. “What’s in the newspapers today is not signs of a crime—it’s proof,” Haddad declared. “It’s not merely a moral problem, it’s a crime. It’s a criminal issue.” The presidential hopeful said he would file charges with the Federal Police and electoral authorities so that the appropriate measures are taken.
Haddad outlined the information that surfaced on the media. “Availing themselves of [undeclared funds used for campaigning, a crime under Brazilian law], they decided to finance a campaign based on slander and falsehoods. All WhatsApp messages targeted me, with falsehoods about both me and my family. I believe it’s extremely serious. I had never seen such a thing in an electoral campaign.”
Allegations
The story says that companies were paying to have messages disseminated via a smartphone app through contracts believed to add up to $3.2 million. A telephone line was used overseas to send hundreds of millions of messages, breaking the law imposed by WhatsApp on Brazilian users, the daily reported.
The misdoings included user data illegally sold. Under Brazilian electoral law, only contact lists voluntarily compiled by campaign members are allowed. Funding from businesses is also banned.
Haddad believes the spread of false news could have boosted the number of intended votes for Bolsonaro. “I’m afraid the electoral authorities and the media, inhibited by violence, fail to do their constitutional duties,” Haddad argued.
