Public transparency: social control and access to information on the transparency portal of Canaã dos Carajás – PA

Abstract

This article analyzes the effectiveness of the transparency portal of the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás (PA) as an instrument for promoting social control, in light of Law No. 12,527/2011 (Access to Information Law - LAI). The municipality presents a unique socioeconomic context, marked by billionaire budgets driven by mineral exploration especially by the S11D Complex, which demands high rigor in monitoring the application of the Financial Compensation for Mineral Resources Exploration (CFEM). The adopted methodology consisted of qualitative and descriptive research, based on a bibliographic review, documentary analysis, and direct observation of active and passive transparency mechanisms, with an emphasis on the Citizen Information Service (SIC). The results indicate that, although the municipality demonstrates high technological readiness and complies with formal requirements of publicity and timeliness, the phenomenon of “opaque transparency” persists, characterized by the difficulty of understanding information by ordinary citizens. It concludes with the need for advancement toward a “citizen transparency” model, through the use of accessible language, data visualization tools, and pedagogical actions, in order to ensure that mineral wealth translates into sustainable development and the strengthening of democratic participation.