Pro

• Brazil is testing a digital wallet program that allows users to monetize their data.
• A federal bill, when passed, would turn data into commercial assets for citizens — the first such proposal in the world.
• The pilot, a partnership between the public and private sectors, is ahead of similar initiatives in some U.S. states.

• Applications for deep-sea mining permits in Brazil have soared in recent years: of the 950 requests filed since 1967, nearly half were submitted between 2020 and 2024.
• Demand for key minerals used in the clean energy transition, as well as geopolitical uncertainties, are driving the race to the seabed.
• Loopholes in Brazilian legislation are allowing mining companies to work without environmental licensing, a situation made worse by the lack of specific rules for deep-sea mining.
• Researchers warn that the lack of environmental impact studies could have widespread impacts on marine ecosystems, especially on coral reef biodiversity.