Political meddling could hinder Brazil’s involvement in cybercrime treaty

In mid-December, Brazil’s Congress ratified the Budapest Convention, the first and most-used international agreement to deal with cybercrime, one week after dozens of government systems suffered hacks. Since then, authorities in Brasília have staged a behind-the-scenes tug-of-war over who will serve as the treaty’s “central authority” in Brazil.

Beyond a run-of-the-mill power struggle typical of any administration, the dispute regarding authority over the Budapest Convention could have significant ramifications for the 2022 general elections — as watchdogs fear that hackers may try to break into Brazil’s 100-percent electronic voting system.

In a memo to President Jair Bolsonaro, Prosecutor General Augusto Aras requested that his department be the focal point of activities regarding the Budapest Convention. The Justice Ministry, meanwhile, demanded that the power be given to the International Cooperation and Asset Recovery Bureau (DRCI) and the Federal Police.

According to the convention, Brazil’s central authority will be in charge of handling cooperation with 65 other signatory countries....