Auxílio Brasil data exposure: find out if you are entitled to R$ 15 THOUSAND in compensation from CAIXA.

According to Instituto Sigilo, which works to defend Personal Data Protection, Compliance, and Information Security, in October 2022, the personal data of approximately 4 million beneficiaries of the former Auxílio Brasil, which was later replaced by Bolsa Família, was exposed.

As a result, Instituto Sigilo sued both Caixa Econômica Federal and the Federal Government. In response, in September of this year, the courts ordered both institutions to compensate the victims in the amount of R$ 15,000 for the improper use of their information.

Read also:Unclaimed money: More than 815,000 people are unaware of amounts above R$ 1,000 available for withdrawal.

How can you find out if your data was exposed?

Following the court ruling, the compromised data includes the telephone number, home address, and date of birth of Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries. Therefore, to check whether your information was compromised and whether you are entitled to compensation of R$ 15,000, follow the instructions below:

1. Visit the Instituto Sigilo portal;
2. Select the “Check my eligibility” option;
3. Complete the form with your name, CPF, and telephone number;
4. Review the privacy policy and terms of service;
5. Decide whether you want to join the nonprofit organization;
6. If your data was not exposed, the message displayed will be “Not eligible for compensation”;
7. If they are exposed and you are entitled to compensation, you will read “You are eligible for compensation”.

However, if the message confirms your eligibility, please be patient. The first-instance decision is still under review, and appeals may be filed until the final decision. It is recommended that you check your email and the NGO's website frequently. In addition, after the legal proceedings are resolved, each individual will need to have a private lawyer to claim the amount owed.

Data precautions

In view of the events, Judge Marco Aurélio de Mello Castrianni, of the 1st Federal Civil Court of São Paulo, pointed out that the agencies should have ensured the security of the information of Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries, but failed in this duty. Additionally, he included the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) and Dataprev as responsible parties.

Finally, in an official statement, those cited declared that they will challenge the order to pay compensation of R$ 15,000 to the 4 million Auxílio Brasil beneficiaries, who represent 20% of the total participants in the social program.