THE EVOLUTION OF WORKING METHODS AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTIGATION TOOLS AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY CRIMES IN BRAZIL: The Social Security Task Force

Resumen

This study provides an evolutionary analysis of the investigative methods, techniques, and technologies used to address social security crimes committed by criminal organizations in Brazil from 1990 to 2011. This period encompasses the inception, development, and consolidation of the Social Security Task Force, a disruptive and collaborative model comprising the Ministry of Social Security, the Federal Police, and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. Employing a qualitative and descriptive approach, the research compares the limitations of the previous investigative paradigm, characterized by a lack of technological resources and a legal vacuum regarding organized crime, with the modern framework. Using the Jorgina de Freitas case as a historical baseline, the paper demonstrates how the integration of financial intelligence, data-mining tools (such as DATAPREV’s CNIS and DARDO software), and new legal instruments enhanced fraud detection and asset recovery. The study concludes that institutional cooperation and technological advancements were fundamental to transforming criminal investigations, generating billions in savings, and ensuring the sustainability of the Brazilian social security system.