The newspaper O Globo first reported in March on the alleged illegal use of FirstMile software developed through the Israeli company Cognyte. The newspaper revealed the source of its information. Federal law enforcement declined a request for comment from The Associated Press on Friday.
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Police arrested two other people and executed 25 search warrants in the states of Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina, Paraná and Goiás, as well as in the Federal District, where Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, is located.
The Brazilian flag is seen during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 2, 2023. (Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The geolocation tool used through ABIN “repeatedly invaded” the Brazilian telephone network and the intrusive software was “acquired through public resources,” federal police said.
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The intelligence firm bought President Michel Temer’s generation from 2016 to 2018 for 5. 7 million reais ($1. 1 million), Globo said in March.
Globo TV reported on Friday that ABIN had used the surveillance software more than 30,000 times, 1,800 of which targeted politicians, journalists, lawyers and conflicting parties in the Bolsonaro government.
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Federal police said they were investigating possible charges of invasion of other people’s computer devices, criminal organization and interception of communications without judicial authorization or for purposes not lawful under the law.