Brazil implements new decree to expedite mobile phone blocking in prisons

A new federal decree in Brazil has streamlined the process for neutralizing mobile devices within prisons by allowing identified devices to be blocked without a prior judicial decision. Rio de Janeiro was the first state to implement this mechanism through 'Operation Modo Avião'.

During the initial phase of the operation, federal and state penal officers identified 143 devices in Rio de Janeiro penitentiaries. The data was submitted to the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), rendering the devices inoperable within 48 hours. Previously, the state penal police required court orders through partnerships with the Judiciary and the Public Ministry, a process that was significantly slower.

The identification process utilizes Israeli-made technology known as Etre (Equipamento Tático de Revista Eletrônica). The federal government previously invested R$ 57 million to acquire 15 of these portable units. The devices can track any equipment using carrier chips, including 5G technology, electronic watches, and Wi-Fi routers, within a calibrated radius of approximately 700 meters.