Brazilian lawmaker drove 2,000 km weekly to stay online during Lula campaign

Brazilian Congressman André Janones said he avoided air travel during Lula's presidential campaign to maintain constant internet access, driving about 2,000 kilometers weekly instead. He managed the "Exército do Lula" WhatsApp channel, which gathered over 10 million supporters before the runoff. Janones revealed he spent an average of 11 hours and 2 minutes daily on his phone, recording campaign videos in single takes. His digital strategy drew international attention, with interviews granted to Le Monde and The Guardian, plus invitations from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Colombia, and Mexico's president. After the election, the channel lost roughly 200,000 members, with Janones estimating some were opposition supporters. He acknowledged the centralized communication model as "mitigated democracy," calling it transitional and unsustainable, though Brazil's electoral court found no irregularities in the channel.