Key Facts
- ✓ The Federal Police (PF) opened an inquiry to investigate influencers allegedly hired to defend Master Bank and attack the Central Bank.
- ✓ PF Director-General Andrei Rodrigues confirmed the investigation.
- ✓ Influencers Rony Gabriel and Juliana Moreira Leite reported receiving proposals to criticize the Central Bank's liquidation of Master Bank.
- ✓ Febraban reported an atypical volume of posts in late December and is analyzing potential coordinated attacks.
- ✓ The PF is continuing parallel investigations into fraud at Master Bank, analyzing data seized during the 'Compliance Zero' operation.
Quick Summary
The Federal Police (PF) has initiated an inquiry to investigate claims that influencers were hired to disparage the Central Bank (BC) while supporting the Master Bank. This follows the BC's decision to liquidate the bank owned by Daniel Vorcaro at the end of the previous year.
PF Director-General Andrei Rodrigues confirmed the investigation. Right-wing influencers Rony Gabriel and Juliana Moreira Leite reported receiving offers to promote the view that the BC acted prematurely. The inquiry seeks to determine if these influencers were paid and operated in a coordinated fashion. Furthermore, the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) noted a spike in mentions in late December and is evaluating the situation.
PF Opens Inquiry into Influencer Campaigns
The Federal Police (PF) has officially opened an inquiry to investigate denunciations regarding influencers who claim they were approached to produce content defending the Master Bank and attacking the Central Bank (BC). The BC had decreed the liquidation of the institution owned by Daniel Vorcaro late last year. The information was confirmed by Andrei Rodrigues, the Director-General of the PF.
During the week of the announcement, right-wing influencers Rony Gabriel and Juliana Moreira Leite revealed they had received proposals to disseminate a narrative suggesting the BC was precipitous in its decision to liquidate Master Bank. The objective of these proposals was to share videos that echoed the court's position and questioned the BC's actions.
The PF's objective extends to identifying whether these influencers were financially compensated for their posts and if they acted in a coordinated manner. The investigation covers public figures who, combined, possess over 36 million followers on Instagram alone.
"Was identified, at the end of December, volume atypical of posts with mentions to the entity and its representatives, referring to the news about the liquidation of the financial institution."
— Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban)
Febraban Reports Unusual Activity
The Federal Police investigation coincides with reports from the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban). The entity stated that an atypical volume of posts mentioning Febraban and its representatives was identified at the end of December. These posts were linked to news regarding the liquidation of the financial institution.
Febraban is currently analyzing whether the posts identified during that period constitute a coordinated attack against the entity. However, the federation noted that there has been a significant reduction in the volume of these atypical posts in recent days.
Parallel Fraud Investigation Continues
In parallel with the influencer inquiry, the PF is continuing its investigation into fraud involving the Master Bank. The agency aims to collect new testimonies later this month. Police members believe they already have concrete evidence of banking fraud committed by the liquidated institution.
New testimonies from directors of Master Bank and the BRB are scheduled to take place following a controversial confrontation at the Supreme Court (STF). This confrontation involved Daniel Vorcaro, the owner of the liquidated bank, and Paulo Henrique Costa, the former president of BRB.
The PF is also analyzing the contents of documents, cell phones, and computers seized during the Compliance Zero operation. This operation took place on November 18 of the previous year, resulting in the arrest of Vorcaro and other directors, who were later released with precautionary measures such as electronic ankle monitors.
"Is analyzing if the posts identified in that period would characterize or not an eventual coordinated attack to the entity, being that a significant reduction of that atypical volume has already been observed in the last days."
— Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban)
