The economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic led the federal government to create, in 2021, a social benefit called Auxílio Brasil.Aimed at helping low-income families, this program later became known as Bolsa Família, today administered by the Federal Executive Branch.
Currently, an alarming situation puts almost 4 million Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries at risk: the leak of personal data.
According to estimates, thousands of beneficiaries may have their personal information exposed in a situation that puts the security of their identity at risk. Find out now what really happened and how you can get compensation.
What is the impact of this information leak for Auxílio Brasil? In September, the Court determined that Caixa Econômica Federal, responsible for paying the aid, and the union compensate R$15,000 for each person whose data was used inappropriately.
This decision was taken in the first instance, meaning there is still the possibility of appeal by those involved.
What is Caixa Econômica Federal’s responsibility in this situation? Caixa Econômica Federal handled the case, highlighting that it has already appealed the court decision, in addition to reaffirming that it did not identify any leaked data under its responsibility.
The institution also highlights that it has an infrastructure capable of maintaining the integrity of its database.
Can I receive compensation from Auxílio Brasil? It is important that Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries know that not everyone will be compensated. Caixa Econômica will pay compensation to those directly affected by the spill.
However, there are ways to check whether your data has been leaked and, therefore, whether you are entitled to compensation.
How do I know if my data has been leaked and can I get compensation? The president of Instituto Sigilo, Victor Hugo Pereira Gonçalves, explained the step-by-step process for implementing this verification, which is based on the basics: accessing the Instituto Sigilo website, providing the requested information, accepting the terms of use and the privacy policy . and confirm the information filled in.
What is the objective of this Auxílio Brasil leak? The Instituto Sigilo, in a note, indicated that the leaked data corresponds to around 20% of the beneficiaries of the Auxílio Brasil program.
The institution further speculated that the main objective of this leak is to sell this information to offer financial products, mainly payroll loans.