Daniel Vorcaro Edited Metrópoles Stories Before Publication, Messages Show
By Hotspotnews
According to the reports, at least 14 texts were sent to Vorcaro in advance. Eleven of them were altered after his suggestions. The topics included the sale of Banco Master assets to BTG Pactual, profiles and analyses involving Central Bank director Renato Gomes, references to former Central Bank president Roberto Campos Neto, and coverage of figures such as Ricardo Cappelli. In the chats, Vorcaro asked for the removal of certain phrases (including language about potential bank failure), shifts in emphasis, title adjustments, and the timing of publication. Tahan frequently responded that she would handle the changes or send revised versions.
The direct communication intensified after Banco Master signed an advertising agreement with Metrópoles valued at roughly R$20 million in 2024. Vorcaro and associates described the deal as strategically important in internal messages. One exchange involved a draft about a purported low-value offer for Master assets; Vorcaro objected to the framing, Tahan indicated the information would be removed, and she later promised not to publish related material without further consultation.
Tahan has stated that reviewing material with the subject is a standard journalistic practice she applies with business, political, and judicial figures to ensure accuracy. She has also said the advertising contract did not determine editorial decisions and pointed to Metrópoles stories that examined difficulties at companies linked to Vorcaro, including Banco Master, Ambipar, and others. Metrópoles is owned by former senator Luiz Estevão and ranks among Brazil’s most-visited digital news sites.
The revelations come amid the broader Banco Master investigation. In November 2025 the Central Bank placed Banco Master and related entities into extrajudicial liquidation after rapid expansion, large issuance of high-yield certificates of deposit, and alleged irregularities. The Credit Guarantee Fund has been paying out tens of billions of reais to affected customers and investors—estimates have reached the R$40–50 billion range across the conglomerate—marking one of the largest such operations in the fund’s history. Vorcaro has been held in pretrial detention since March 2026 under Operation Compliance Zero. Authorities have cited suspicions of fraudulent management, money laundering, concealment of assets, and attempts to influence regulators and other officials. He was previously detained briefly in November 2025.
Federal Police materials have also described wider efforts linked to Vorcaro to shape public perception, including contacts with other media professionals and arrangements aimed at limiting unfavorable coverage. The Metrópoles messages form one documented portion of those records. Vorcaro’s lawyers have contested aspects of the investigation and the use of seized communications; he has not been convicted.
The case illustrates the tension between commercial relationships and editorial independence at a major digital outlet. Competing news organizations used the same police-extracted messages to report the exchanges, underscoring that the story reached the public through multiple channels rather than a single source. Whether similar patterns exist elsewhere remains a matter for further reporting and scrutiny of ownership, advertising, and internal practices across the Brazilian media landscape.
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