Brazil's AGU adopts data protection policy to govern AI use

Minister of the Attorney General's Office (AGU), Jorge Messias, warned that the growing reliance on digital platforms and artificial intelligence concentrates political and economic power in the hands of a few foreign corporations. At the opening of the 3rd Digital Transformation Forum for Public Advocacy, he emphasized that "human control is non‑negotiable" and that algorithmic decisions must respect Brazilian law and fundamental rights.

In conjunction with the forum, AGU issued Normative Ordinance 226/26, establishing a permanent data‑protection policy for the agency. The ordinance makes the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) the “brake” on the use of AI, requiring any AI‑driven analysis or automation to comply with strict governance, risk‑management and transparency criteria. It integrates personal‑data handling into the agency’s overall risk framework, aiming to prevent misuse, unauthorized access and data leaks while ensuring that legal decisions remain human‑driven.