Brazilian journalist Luís Pablo Conceição Almeida had his cell phones and computers seized by federal police on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, following the publication of a report alleging improper use of a state vehicle by Justice Minister Flávio Dino and his family. The case raises concerns about press freedom and government scrutiny of journalists.
Almeida, who publishes Blog do Luís Pablo, reported that a vehicle assigned to the Tribunal de Justiça do Estado Maranhão (TJ-MA) was used by Dino and family members for personal travel. The initial reports of the search were made by journalist Vinícius Valfré and later confirmed by multiple news outlets.
According to reports, the investigation began after security personnel within the Supreme Court alerted the Federal Police to the potential misuse of the vehicle and concerns about surveillance. The case was then assigned to Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the inquiry into disinformation, originally opened in 2019 to investigate attacks on the Supreme Court linked to allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The journalist’s November 2025 report claimed that a vehicle funded by the state’s Court of Justice was being used by Dino and his family. The publication alleged the minister and his relatives were using a vehicle intended for official use by judges for private transportation. The report is no longer available online.
In the warrant authorizing the search, Moraes stated that Almeida was conducting “illegal monitoring of the security of Minister Flávio Dino.”
The minister wrote that, “the Federal Police informed on November 26, 2025, [that] the same blog published another post featuring images of the vehicle, indicating effective surveillance, monitoring and tracking, as well as pointing to possible access to restricted information, using institutional tools, with the participation of other individuals in the action.”
Court officials stated that security personnel were alerted to the publication of vehicle license plates used by Dino, the number and names of his security detail, and other private details.
According to the warrant, the Federal Police suspect Almeida of “persecution,” alleging he used “some state mechanism to identify and characterize the vehicles used, which allowed the improper exposure related to the security of authorities.”
Moraes likewise cited a previous Federal Police report indicating Almeida had been investigated for alleged extortion attempts, threatening to withhold information about police operations unless paid.
Moraes ordered the Federal Police to interview Almeida and “other agents with whom the suspects may have interacted through incitement and/or co-optation to commit the crimes under investigation.” Authorities will also analyze the electronic devices seized during the search.
In a statement on his blog, Almeida said that “work equipment used in journalistic activity, such as computers and cell phones” were seized. He added that he “awaits full access to the records to fully understand the grounds for the decision.”
The Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB) of Maranhão expressed “institutional concern” over the action, emphasizing the importance of protecting journalistic source confidentiality and the freedom of the press.
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS
Following criticism from various sectors, the Supreme Court’s press office stated that the “investigation” stemmed from the need to investigate “illegal monitoring” of Minister Flávio Dino’s movements. The statement cited the publication of vehicle license plates used by the minister.
Here is the full statement:
“We inform you that the institutional security of Minister Flávio Dino was alerted in 2025 to a procedure for illegal monitoring of his movements in São Luís. There was publication of license plates of vehicles used by the minister, the number of agents and the names of security agents, and other details. This material was sent to the Federal Police and the Attorney General’s Office, followed by the initiation of the appropriate investigative procedure. The matter under investigation derives from the need to investigate the aforementioned illegal monitoring of the security procedures of Minister Flávio Dino.
“The matter has no correlation with crimes against honor or freedom of expression or the fake news inquiry.
“Security vehicles are used by the STF, in collaboration with the Courts, based on the following rules:
- Law No. 12,694/2012, especially article 9, §1, II, as well as Resolution No. 721/STF, article 5, I, a, and
- Resolution No. 435 of the CNJ, which regulates cooperation between the security agencies of the Judiciary, especially article 19, sole paragraph.
Despite the mention of the fake news inquiry in the warrant, the Court stated that the two cases are unrelated. The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for comment regarding the apparent contradiction.
ASSOCIATIONS PROTEST
The ABERT (Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters), ANER (National Association of Magazine Editors) and ANJ (National Association of Newspapers) released a joint statement calling the decision “worrying.” “The fact that the decision is part of the so-called fake news inquiry, which has no determined object or duration, and is still applied to a person who does not have the prerogative of forum, makes the situation even more serious,” the statement read.
The AIR (International Association of Broadcasting), which represents over 17,000 radio and television stations in the Americas, also criticized the measure, stating that “any measure that may affect such guarantees must be evaluated with the utmost rigor and caution, in order to avoid impacts that may restrict or discourage informative activity and public debate in a democratic society.” Read the full statement (PDF – 172 kB).
