The Public Prosecutor's Office at the Federal Court of Accounts (MPTCU) has called on the TCU to ensure complete transparency regarding the authorization processes for Brazilian betting companies. Deputy Prosecutor Lucas Rocha Furtado has raised concerns about the partial secrecy surrounding data from these licensing processes. Last week, Finance Minister Dario Durigan announced that while some information would be released, the names of the partners in the betting companies would be redacted. Durigan stated this action is intended to comply with data protection laws by concealing sensitive details.
Furtado contends that masking such information lacks any constitutional or legal foundation in the Access to Information Law (LAI). He believes that this practice undermines principles of transparency and morality, especially given the high-risk nature of the betting sector, which requires rigorous social and institutional oversight.
In his formal complaint, Furtado pointed out that existing public transparency regulations do not justify keeping the identities of company partners and ultimate beneficiaries confidential. He stressed that knowing the corporate structure and the identities of ultimate beneficiaries is crucial for effective regulatory supervision.
Furtado underscored that the Constitution does not endorse blanket secrecy for the benefit of private entities regulated by law. He noted, "Secrecy is the exception and must be interpreted restrictively, always with an express legal basis and in a duly justified manner."
The deputy attorney general highlighted that the LAI holds public officials accountable if they impose unjustified secrecy on information or refuse to release information without proper legal grounds. He has urged the TCU to direct the Treasury to promote complete transparency, rejecting generalized secrecy and name redactions. Furthermore, he has requested an audit of the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) to uncover any actions, ordinances, or guidelines that may have led to the redacted disclosure of licensing processes. As a precaution, he has also asked that the Treasury and SPA be instructed not to redact names.
