Illegal scheme with cryptocurrency and Ugandan children is used to boost Flávio Bolsonaro
Strategy similar to Pablo Marçal's distributes tokens in exchange for electoral promotion and violates legislation
TL;DR
- A cryptocurrency exchange is offering digital 'B22 tokens' to users who share promotional content for Flávio Bolsonaro.
- The scheme is being promoted on an Instagram profile with over 12.9 million followers, initially focused on fundraising for children's housing in Kampala, Uganda.
- Videos feature Ugandan children wearing 'B22 token' shirts and singing messages to vote for Flávio Bolsonaro, Nikolas Ferreira, and Pablo Marçal.
- Election lawyers suggest the operation could be an illegal corporate donation and resembles methods previously used by Pablo Marçal, who was deemed ineligible for similar activities.
- The B22 movement claims it unites support for vote '22' and helping children in Kampala, asserting the token is not an official campaign donation.
- However, domain registration information is kept private, and posts by user Kevim Flores explicitly link the token to Bolsonaro's candidacy and project significant profits tied to the election.
- Researchers highlight the complexity and illegality of the operation, citing violations of rules against corporate entities campaigning and linking humanitarian aid to political visibility.