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Data breach of Smart Sampa leads to investigation by Public Ministry

A breach involving the Smart Sampa camera system exposed confidential data for nearly a year, prompting responses from the São Paulo City Hall and the Public Ministry.

20 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Data breach of Smart Sampa leads to investigation by Public Ministry — Archive photoPhoto: Governo do Estado de São Paulo · Flickr · BY

A flaw in the public surveillance system known as Smart Sampa allowed unauthorized access to over 58,000 cameras for nearly a year, exposing confidential data and compromising the safety of millions of citizens in São Paulo. This information was disclosed by UOL on Tuesday (20).

In response, the City Hall of São Paulo, under the administration of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB), denied the existence of security flaws and attributed the breach to a security officer who has since been removed. The mayor stated that he was already aware of the problem before the report was published.

The São Paulo Public Ministry announced it will open an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the breach. The case has been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Offices dealing with Public Heritage, and the necessary investigation steps will be defined later.

In addition to the investigation, councilor Amanda Paschoal (PSOL) requested the creation of a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) in the City Council to investigate the flaws in Smart Sampa, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

Nunes, for his part, defended the safety of the system, classifying it as

absolutely secure

and highlighted that the administration took measures following UOL's contact about the breach.

The repercussions of the case continue to raise concerns about the effectiveness of the surveillance system and data protection in the city of São Paulo, with various voices drawing attention to the need for oversight and accountability.

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