Brazil sees AI reshape criminal investigations and court processes

Legal experts in Brazil note that artificial intelligence and digital evidence are transforming criminal investigations. Former Federal Police delegate Bernardo Guideli Amaral explained that the reliance on telephone taps has largely been replaced by data from smartphones, computers, cloud services and large financial intelligence reports, allowing more precise reconstructions of crimes while raising concerns about privacy and constitutional guarantees.

At the same time, Brazilian civil procedure scholars warn of a new threat called “prompt injection,” where hidden instructions are embedded in documents to bias AI analysis. They argue this practice violates procedural good faith, could encourage further misconduct, and underscores the need for clearer rules to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings.

Both developments highlight the Brazilian justice system’s challenge of integrating advanced technology while maintaining legal safeguards and fundamental rights.