Kicking off the program for the final day of the 9th National Meeting of Courts of Auditors (ENTC), Panel 5 of the event addressed “Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and External Oversight: Management of Environmental, Social, and Economic Risks.” Moderated by the president of the Rui Barbosa Institute (IRB), Councilor Edilberto Carlos Pontes Lima (TCE-CE), the panel featured presentations by Karin Kässmayer, a legislative consultant for the Senate, and Aline Macohin, an analyst with the SERPRO Comptroller’s Office. “Fifty percent of the Courts of Auditors already use artificial intelligence tools in their activities. And this leads us to reflect on the challenges regarding security and responsibilities,” said the council member.
Karin Kässmayer – Legislative Advisor to the Federal Senate
Senate legislative advisor Karin Kässmayer argued that public policies should include the climate variable in their assessments and that external oversight bodies—such as the Courts of Auditors—should take this into account in their analyses. “Climate change has had a significant impact on Brazil. Extreme events do not only cause property damage; they also lead to population displacements, profoundly altering the relationship between society and nature. These are challenges for public officials at all levels of government. In the context of oversight, incorporating climate-related factors into the evaluation of public policies requires a new perspective on prevention and urgency,” she said.
Kässmayer cited a European Union report that highlights the importance of taking climate conditions into account in public policy assessments. He noted that a lack of attention to policies addressing environmental preservation and climate change can lead to water insecurity, food insecurity, and energy insecurity, with consequences for the entire financial system, public health, and social cohesion. “The budgetary issue is directly linked to natural disasters, and vulnerability is never individual—it is collective. There are people who are disproportionately affected when poverty is taken into account,” he concluded.
Aline Macohin – Analyst in the SERPRO Comptroller’s Office
Aline Macohin, an analyst with the Comptroller’s Office of the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro), urged public agencies to exercise caution when using artificial intelligence tools. She emphasized that AI must not only be used responsibly but also developed responsibly. “The concept of artificial intelligence has existed since 1956. We talk a lot about it today and about the need for regulation because back then there was very little data, and we were perfectly capable of controlling the information. Today, that is impossible for humans,” she said, citing the example that one of the world’s leading AI companies has data centers with high processing power the size of a city block.
The Serpro employee issued an important warning to regulatory agencies regarding the development of artificial intelligence tools for process analysis. She argued that transparency should be a priority when designing these mechanisms and emphasized the importance of Brazil investing in this sector to avoid becoming technologically dependent. “The recent case involving Tool X and its suspension nationwide was a milestone in advancing this issue, even in terms of ensuring our sovereignty,” she stated.
The 9th ENTC
The 9th National Meeting of Courts of Auditors (ENTC), which runs through November 14 in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), brings together 2,000 participants, including council members, ministers, auditors, and public sector experts. The event’s program includes 80 activities, 84 speakers, and discussions on innovation in public oversight, transparency, and the strengthening of oversight bodies.
The event is organized by the Association of Members of the Courts of Auditors (Atricon) in conjunction with the Paraná State Court of Auditors (TCE-PR), the Rui Barbosa Institute (IRB), the National Council of Presidents of Courts of Auditors (CNPTC), the Brazilian Association of Municipal Courts of Auditors (Abracom), and the National Association of Justices and Alternate Justices of Courts of Auditors (Audicon).
The 9th ENTC is sponsored by Cemig, Codemge, Itaipu, ABDI, Sanepar, the IDB, CNI, CFC, Abralegal, Geap Saúde, and Editora Fórum. The conference receives institutional support from the Courts of Auditors of Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, Rondônia, Goiás, and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as ASUR, Ampcon, ANTC, and CNPGC.
Complete coverage, including photos and presentations by the panelists, will be available on the Atricon website and the IX ENTC website, as well as on Flickr.
Service:
9th National Meeting of the Courts of Auditors
Date:November 11–14
Location:Foz do Iguaçu (PR)
Schedule:https://entc2024.com.br/programacao
Coverage:https://entc2024.com.br,https://atricon.org.br, andwww.flickr.com/atricon.