English 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
STF decision requires the use of body cameras with continuous recording by the São Paulo Military Police; police lethality reaches its highest rate in the last 5 years and cases of abuse shock the country.
On Monday (9), the president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, determined that military police officers in the state of São Paulo (PM de São Paulo) be required to use body cameras in their operations. The measure, which includes the use of equipment with uninterrupted recording, responds to a request made by the state Public Defender's Office and aims to combat cases of police violence and increase transparency in public security actions.
A decision was made after recent episodes involving abuses committed by military police officers, including intentional switching off of body cameras. Barroso highlighted the importance of the continuous recording model to protect fundamental rights, especially the right to life. “It is essential to maintain the current model of uninterrupted recording, under penalty of violating the constitutional prohibition of regression,” said the minister.
Request fulfilled after a year of waiting
The request to make the use of body cameras mandatory for the São Paulo Military Police has been pending in the Supreme Court since December of last year. In the document, the state Public Defender's Office cited the need for effective measures to curb police lethality, which showed a significant increase in 2024.
- Abu Dhabi: The richest city in the world with a fortune of US$1,7 trillion and millionaires flocking to enjoy this luxury paradise!
- Fines are flying around! Uber creates a new category and, two days after its launch, there are inspections, vehicles are seized and fines of R$2.600 are issued
- Internet anywhere! Starlink antenna, Elon Musk's company, is now sold on Mercado Livre! See if it's worth buying
- Elon Musk is the new owner of TikTok? It's possible! Chinese consider selling TikTok to billionaire to avoid ban on the app starting Sunday
Governor of Sao Paulo acknowledges mistake
The Supreme Court's decision comes just days after the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), publicly admitted that he was wrong in his criticism of the use of body cameras by the Military Police. The acknowledgement came after the repercussion of a shocking video in which a military police officer appears to throw a man off a bridge in the southern part of the capital of São Paulo.
“I admit, I was wrong. I was wrong and I have no problem saying that. I had a mistaken view of the importance of cameras,” Tarcísio told reporters. According to him, the state government is now committed to increasing the use of these devices in the daily lives of police officers.
Body cameras as a tool for security and justice
Tarcísio de Freitas also stressed that the government's goal is to guarantee legal security for São Paulo's PM professionals, but without leaving room for abuse. "The discourse of legal security cannot be confused with a safe conduct to disobey rules or commit excesses," he said.
The measure, in addition to promoting greater transparency, seeks to regain the population's trust and avoid tragedies such as those recently registered. With the mandatory use of body cameras, the expectation is to reduce police lethality and ensure that the São Paulo Military Police acts within legal and ethical parameters.
