The STF minister criticized the sharing of data resulting from the breach of confidentiality by the owner of Banco Master
The minister Gilmar Mendesfrom the Federal Supreme Court (STF), criticized this Thursday (26) the episode of leaked conversations by the owner of Banco Master, Daniel Vorcaro, and assigned responsibility from data sharing to Mixed Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) that investigates fraud at the National Social Security Institute (INSS). The magistrate gave a statement during the .
During the vote reading, Gilmar Mendes said that the episode was “regrettable” and consisted of “an unmeasured abuse of power”. The minister also made a quote to Saint Augustine when criticizing the collegial stance regarding the processing of Vorcaro’s data: “I can do a lot, I can’t do everything”.
The judge further added that, when he criticizes the “abuses of CPMIs”, are not directed to the commission “as an institution”. “The hysteria that is sometimes seen in these scenes does not correspond to the function of a judicial investigative authority. It can’t be like that. As I reiterate, the authority that has access to a document that breaks confidentiality as a judge cannot, share how this link was done”, declared Gilmar Mendes.
Vorcaro leak
On March 4, . At the end of the day, the banker’s conversations began to be reported in the press.
The reports exposed exchanges of messages between the Master’s owner and authorities, his girlfriend and affairs. Also published were .
. In the same decision, the minister informed that the Leak has no connection with the PF investigation, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, within the scope of Operation Compliance Zero. The action investigates alleged fraud involving Banco Master.
According to Mendonça, the disclosure of conversations collected on Vorcaro’s cell phone occurred after the material is returned to the INSS CPMI. .
When accepting Vorcaro’s defense request, the minister recalled that, when he authorized the return of the material to the INSS CPMI, he “made a point of noting” that the “processing of information should strictly observe fundamental guarantees”. Among them, the “preservation of intimacy”.
“The breach of confidentiality of data relating to the person being investigated does not authorize its unveiling. Quite the contrary, it allows, by the authority that received the restricted access information, the responsibility for maintaining confidentiality. This is because, to all evidence, any breach of confidentiality does not make the information accessed public”, said Mendonça.
. In a note, the corporation announced that it sent Mendonça a representation to initiate an investigation into the “improper disclosure” of messages collected on cell phones. He also said that “acts in all its investigations following strict security standards in the processing of information, in the preservation and guarantee of fundamental rights”including the “respect for privacy and intimacy”.
“No report, judicial police information or representation presented, within the scope of the Operation Compliance Zerocontained data that was not relevant to the investigation. Therefore, information related to the intimacy or private life of those investigated was not included”, declared the corporation.
The PF also reported that It is not their responsibility to “edit conversations, select or manipulate data extracted from seized equipment”. The corporation added that the materials seized as part of the Operation Compliance Zerowhich investigates alleged fraud involving the Masterhave been under its power since November 2025 and were forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in January. By decision of Toffoli, Vorcaro’s defense had access to the data.
Understand the Master case
After identifying signs of financial irregularities and the serious liquidity crisisthe Central Bank determined, on November 18, the extrajudicial settlement of:
- Banco Master S/A;
- Banco Master de Investimentos S/A;
- Banco Letsbank S/A;
- Master S/A Foreign Exchange, Titles and Securities Broker.
On January 21, Will Bank, Master’s digital arm, .
The liquidation process was accompanied by Operation Compliance Zero. Also on November 18, the PF launched the first phase of the action to combat the issuance of false credit securities by institutions that are part of the National Financial System (SFN). Faced with the possibility of escape, Vorcaro was arrested the day before. The banker was released using an electronic ankle bracelet. On March 4, .
According to investigations, Banco Master offered Bank Deposit Certificates (CDB) with profitability well above the market. To sustain the practice, the institution began to take excessive risks and structure operations that artificially inflated its financial balancewhile the liquidity deteriorated.
The episodes of settled on January 15th, are the most serious problems in the Brazilian financial system. The cases involve, in addition to fraud, tensions between the STF and the Federal Audit Court (TCU), as well as with the Central Bank and the PF.
On January 17, the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC) began the from Banco Master, Banco Master de Investimento and Banco Letsbank. The total amount to be paid in guarantees amounts to R$40.6 billion.
