Federal Police Investigate Data Privacy Breach in Receita Federal Involving STF Ministers
The Federal Police are investigating a data breach at Receita Federal involving unauthorized access to confidential tax data of Supreme Federal Court ministers and their families, with four employees suspended and under monitoring.
- • Federal Police executed search warrants in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia targeting Receita Federal employees.
- • Investigation centers on unauthorized access to sensitive tax data of STF ministers and family members.
- • Four Receita Federal employees suspended and placed under electronic monitoring.
- • Sindifisco union calls for caution, highlighting legal data protections and the right to defense.
Key details
On February 18, 2026, the Federal Police in Brazil conducted an extensive investigation into an alleged breach of tax data confidentiality within the Receita Federal, targeting sensitive information related to members of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the Attorney General, and their family members. The operation involved executing four search and seizure warrants across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia and was ordered by STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes following a request from the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
The Receita Federal had detected irregular access to protected taxpayer data, which potentially included personal information of STF ministers and their relatives. Among the individuals identified as victims were the wife of Minister Alexandre de Moraes and the son of another STF minister. Four Receita Federal employees, who had been reassigned to other government bodies, were identified as suspects. These employees were suspended from their duties and subject to electronic monitoring measures.
The National Union of Tax Auditors (Sindifisco) reacted to the investigation by urging caution and emphasizing the importance of protecting taxpayer data as a foundational legal guarantee and essential for maintaining trust in tax administration. Sindifisco highlighted that while authorized access to taxpayer information by auditors is routine and necessary for inspections, unauthorized disclosures are criminal acts warranting punishment. The union also stressed the right of the accused to a fair defense and hoped for a speedy resolution of the case.
This investigation follows an internal Receita Federal audit that flagged suspicious accesses to confidential data, which prompted coordination with the Federal Police. The investigation also revealed that the magistrates under scrutiny had received R$ 627 thousand, though the context of these payments was not detailed.
Minister Moraes’ prompt action and the coordinated efforts of the Federal Police underscore the gravity of the data privacy breach, reflecting serious concerns over the misuse of sensitive governmental data. The government concurrently continues to pursue infrastructure developments, including railway auctions worth R$ 140 billion, signaling ongoing governance activities amid the unfolding investigation.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities committed to clarifying the full scope of the data breach and ensuring accountability for any illegal actions within the Receita Federal.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
