Illegal Surveillance / Intelligence Misuse
What the allegations say
Key dates
- Brazil’s federal police say that the national intelligence agency Agência Brasileira de Inteligência (ABIN) was used under Bolsonaro’s administration to conduct a clandestine surveillance scheme -targeting judges, lawmakers, journalists, environmental officials and other critics.
- The operation allegedly involved a “parallel structure” within ABIN, bypassing judicial oversight, using software (such as the Israeli‐developed “FirstMile”) to monitor cellphones, devices and communications.
- Among the alleged targets were senior figures like Supreme Court justices, members of the legislature, and prominent journalists.
- It is alleged that Bolsonaro and his circle not only knew about the scheme but benefited from it politically, including through smears and disinformation campaigns using the illegally-obtained intelligence.
- In addition, the Brazilian government publicly admitted that intelligence operations under Bolsonaro spied on Paraguayan authorities.
Key dates
- June 17, 2025: The federal police submitted a report to Brazil’s Supreme Court recommending indictment of Bolsonaro and over 30 other individuals in connection with the ABIN scheme.
- June 18–19, 2025: The seal on the 1,125-page federal police report was lifted, and media reports detailed the extent of the espionage, the targets, and the alleged role of Bolsonaro as the “main beneficiary”.
- March 31, 2025: The Brazilian foreign ministry acknowledged that under Bolsonaro’s presidency Brazil’s intelligence services spied on Paraguayan authorities - the operation purportedly ended in March 2023.
Sources
AP News
Brazil’s Bolsonaro used intelligence agency to spy on judges, lawmakers and journalists, police say
The Week
Shadow state: In secret manoeuvres, Bolsonaro twisted Brazil's spycraft for personal gain
AL Arabiya
Brazil's Bolsonaro Used Intelligence Agency to Spy on Judges, Lawmakers, and Journalists, Police Say
Reporters Without Borders
Brazil: RSF targeted by illegal surveillance under Bolsonaro’s intelligence agency, demands access to all information on the operation