I'm Luiz Fernando Toledo,

Brazilian journalist, researcher and instructor based in London, with a proven track record of producing and managing impactful projects related to Brazil.

My reporting has been translated into various languages, reaching thousands of readers in Brazil and abroad.

View resume

See more videos here.

Reporting Impact

Stories I wrote sparked a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sexual enticement network in Brazil, exposed a former president's misuse of public funds, uncovered a bid fraud that saved R$ 15 million from a city's budget and enabled the shutdown of companies involved in illegal activities.

Training

Attended world-class conferences as instructor in Brazil, USA, UK, Portugal, Malaysia, Sweden and others. Trained over 2,000 journalists through online and in-person workshops.

Research

Masters degrees in Data Journalism (Columbia) and Public Administration (FGV‑EAESP). Research-assistant at POLIS‑Cambridge (2024–2026). Former research fellow at Oxford (2021), Columbia (2022–2023) and NED (2023–2024). My research was used by the government to improve transparency policies.

Civil Tech

I enjoy testing different technologies to improve my investigative reporting process and to help other journalists. I founded Datafixers, a data innovation lab that received a US$ 100,000 grant from Columbia and Stanford universities and won the prize for best data journalism project in Brazil.

Investigating AI

In 2026, investigating the impact of artificial intelligence on society has become a central focus of my reporting. These stories look at how synthetic media, automation and AI-generated authority are changing what people watch, how they work, whom they trust and how political influence spreads.

BBC News BrasilFeatured investigation

AI-generated videos that eroticise Brazil’s brutal history are reaching millions on YouTube

I investigated how synthetic videos turn the history of slavery and racial violence in Brazil into a high-engagement spectacle — and the platforms, incentives and audiences that allow this material to spread at scale.

›Read the text version
Watch on Instagram
AI-generated doctor illustration showing a doctor beside a computer keyboard
BBC News Brasil · Part 1

The global underground industry of fake AI doctors

This investigation mapped a global network of AI-generated doctors using fear to go viral among older people in Brazil.

›Read the investigation
BBC News Brasil · Follow-up

‘Fatal harm’: a doctor finds his face cloned by AI

After the first report, a doctor recognised that his face was being used in one of the channels mentioned by the BBC and decided to file a police report. Police then opened an investigation and cited the BBC report as a source.

›Read the follow-up

Following the widespread attention to our findings, YouTube removed most of the channels and videos. Versions of the report were published in several languages: Pashto (Afghanistan), Hindi (India), Thai (Thailand), Russian (Russia), Sinhala (Sri Lanka), Urdu (Pakistan), Tamil (India and Sri Lanka) and Ukrainian (Ukraine).

Work & platforms

Workers saying goodbye to formal employment to chase the dream of making AI videos

How the promise of an AI-powered creator economy is changing work, risk and expectations of financial independence.

›Read the original
Children & attention

The flood of AI videos designed to ‘hypnotise’ children on YouTube

An investigation into repetitive synthetic content built for attention — and experts’ concerns about effects that may last a lifetime.

›Read the original
Elections

The clandestine market for AI-made ‘candidate supporters’

Behind the election: synthetic political fandom, automated WhatsApp bots and the infrastructure of influence.

›Read the original
Political influence

We asked AI who to vote for — here’s what it said

What happened when chatbots were asked to take a political position, despite rules against doing so.

›Read the original
Synthetic personas

The AI character going viral with attacks on Lula’s government and Brazil’s Supreme Court

Following a synthetic persona at the intersection of politics, virality and persuasion.

›Read the original
Mental health

Your therapist is human — but may be using AI in therapy

The hidden use of artificial intelligence in mental-health care and the risks for patients.

›Read the original
Public understanding

The Brazilian creator translating the chaos of AI

‘People are lost’: a story about making an emerging technology legible to a confused public.

›Read the original
Workplaces

What it’s like to interview for a job with artificial intelligence

Efficiency may improve — but what happens to the human experience of being assessed?

›Read the original

Investigative Reporting

BBC News Brasil Investigative Series

The Epstein-Brazil connection

I analyzed all the millions of Epstein files released by the US government and built scrapers that searched for keywords related to Brazilian figures. This way, we were able to reveal the financial dependency of Brazilian models on the billionaire, connections used to lure young women, and the victims who were taken to the US. The BBC series led to a Federal Prosecution investigation in Brazil seeking a network that lured women. Combined, the reporting reached over 10 million views in text and video and resonated across all major Brazilian media outlets.

The English version of the investigation — Epstein used modelling agent to recruit girls, Brazilian women tell BBC — was published internationally and translated into several languages, including French (Epstein utilisait un agent de mannequins pour recruter des jeunes filles, témoignent des Brésiliennes auprès de la BBC), Polish (Brazylijskie modelki twierdzą, że Epstein rekrutował młode dziewczyny przez agenta modelek), Serbian (Brazilke za BBC: Epstin koristio modnog agenta za regrutaciju devojaka), Chinese (巴西女性向BBC透露，爱泼斯坦曾利用模特儿经纪人招募女孩), and Ukrainian (Як модельні агенції вербували неповнолітніх дівчат для Епштейна).

Series: 9 parts

1. Jeffrey Epstein funded Brazilian models and warned days before his arrest 2. Inside Epstein's Brazilian network: scouts, magazines, and fashion contests 3. New documents reveal Epstein's ties to a 'major Brazilian group' 4. 'Around 50 Brazilian women': a survivor's testimony on Epstein's mansion 5. BBC investigation prompts Federal Prosecution probe into Epstein's Brazilian network 6. Epstein sought bridge to Brazilian businessmen for deals, BBC-obtained documents reveal 7. The modelling contest used by Epstein's network to recruit Latin American teenagers 8. Epstein bought apartment in upscale Sao Paulo neighborhood, deed shows 9. 'He used to do some tests on me': Brazilian woman tells how she was lured to Epstein in Sao Paulo NEW
The global industry of AI-generated fake doctors that uses fear to go viral among elderly Brazilians
BBC News Brasil

The global industry of AI-generated fake doctors targeting elderly Brazilians

This investigation mapped a network that generates fake AI doctors to engage elderly audiences. The work led to a police investigation and the takedown of several YouTube channels involved in this kind of wrongdoing.

› Read the original › Read the follow-up
Sexual abuse in Brazil's military schools
BBC News Brasil

Sexual abuse in Brazil's military schools

Our investigation reveals that at least nine girls aged 11 to 13 reported inappropriate touching by a military monitor in a public school, raising broader questions about oversight and the civic-military model.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
How fake bottle caps and seals fuel Brazil's counterfeit alcohol market
BBC News Brasil

How fake bottle caps and seals fuel Brazil's counterfeit alcohol market

This investigation dismantled a network of over 10,000 people selling bottle parts for beverage counterfeiting and triggered a police investigation.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
Giant Amazon fish turned into luxury handbags – but who profits?
BBC News Brasil

Giant Amazon fish turned into luxury handbags – but who profits?

The thick, patterned skin of the once-at-risk pirarucu fish is in demand for high-end fashion, but the fishermen want more money.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
Secret Budget Amendment Linked to Slave Labor
BBC News Brasil

Secret Budget Amendment Linked to Slave Labor

Investigation reveals how a budget amendment supported by Chamber President Hugo Motta funded construction using stones produced by workers in slave‑like conditions.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
Brazilians Face Abuse in Irish Meat Industry
BBC News Brasil

Brazilians Face Abuse in Irish Meat Industry

Exclusive investigation exposes precarious working conditions and abuse faced by Brazilian workers in Ireland’s meat processing industry.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
Indigenous objects containing animal parts are freely sold online
UOL

Failed enforcement: indigenous objects containing animal parts are freely sold online

A 2‑month investigation into animal feather smuggling and how companies benefit from exploiting indigenous communities in Brazil.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
Political Backing Fuels Land Grabbing in Brazil's Distrito Federal
Revista Piauí

Political Backing Fuels Land Grabbing in Brazil's Distrito Federal

In the Distrito Federal, Brazil, a significant issue of land grabbing in conservation areas is emerging, intensified by political support. These activities are particularly rampant in the Colônia Agrícola 26 de Setembro, a settlement approximately 26 km from the Palácio do Planalto, housing around 35,000 residents.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive
A world heritage site under attack in Brazil
Revista Piauí OCCRP

A world heritage site under attack in Brazil

Brazilwood is being driven to extinction by an industry not often associated with organized crime: classical music. Tests on a sample of the confiscated wood show it was logged in a protected forest.

› Read the original ↗ Read in English — interactive

Other reporting examples

From earlier newsrooms — select one to see additional stories not featured above.

Initiatives I've led

2022 – present

Datafixers

Founder
  • US$100,000 grant from the Brown Institute for Media Innovation (Columbia University)
  • Gabo Prize 2024 — environmental coverage with InfoAmazonia
  • Best data project in Brazil 2023 — Open Knowledge Foundation
  • Published with ICIJ, OCCRP, BBC; supported Washington Post (Pulitzer finalist) and Al Jazeera
  • datafixers.org ↗
2019 – 2024

Abraji

Director for FOIA projects · Advisory board
  • National research on Brazil's Lei de Acesso à Informação
  • Contributed to training 2,000+ journalists in workshops
  • This FOIA work earned the Oxford RISJ fellowship
2019 – 2023

Fiquem Sabendo

Cofounder · content director
  • Nonprofit specialised in public records requests
  • Year-long project on presidential corporate-card spending triggered investigations against current and former presidents
  • Câmara dos Deputados Transparency Prize 2022
  • Cited in 1,000+ stories by other newsrooms
present

Jeduca

Director · course co-creator
  • Co-created a course taken by 1,000+ journalists and students
  • Travelled to several Brazilian states giving in-person workshops to students on education journalism

Video reporting

Short-form video reporting for social media

Interviews

Bellingcat's Stage Talks

I was interviewed by Bellingcat to discuss how to use public records and data to investigate environmental crimes in Brazil. Held in English.

Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC)

Panel discussion on investigating environmental crimes at GIJC 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

SBT News

Discussion about transparency and investigative journalism in Brazil.

TV Globo/G1 Podcast (O Assunto)

Podcast discussion about corporate expenses investigation.

FIL Lisbon Conference

Presentation about DataFixers.org at the Lisbon International Fair.

CNN Brasil

Interview about air charter investigation and transparency in government spending.

Awards and Honorable Mentions

Research & fellowships

  1. 2019–2021
    FGV-EAESP
    MS Public Administration (full scholarship)
    FOI research adopted by gov.
  2. 2021
    Oxford · RISJ
    Trust in News fellow (6 months)
    Course for 300+ journalists
  3. 2021–2022
    Columbia University
    MS Data Journalism (full scholarship)
    Datafixers founded here
  4. 2022–2023
    Brown Institute
    Media Innovation fellowship (Columbia)
    US$100k grant → Datafixers
  5. 2023–2024
    NED
    Reagan-Fascell fellow — AI in investigative journalism
    AI chatbot & reaction simulator
  6. 2024–present
    Cambridge · POLIS
    Research-assistant — Prison Consensus Project
    Ongoing

Scholarships and Grants

  • 2024Together for Conservation (EJN, 2024)Earth Journalism Network
  • 2022Person of the Year 2022 – Brazilian American Chamber of CommerceBrazilian American Chamber of Commerce
  • 2021–2022Columbia Journalism School (US$ 91,500 in tuition) 2021/2022Columbia University
  • 2020ICFJ Latin America Grantee 2020 – FOIA – Brazil and US projectICFJ
  • 2019Instituto Ling’s Visionary Journalist US$ 60,000 scholarship (2019) – Jornalista de Visão Hidden secret Instituto Ling
  • 2018ICFJ Emerging Leaders Program / fellow 2018ICFJ

Courses & workshops

Como usar IA no jornalismo? (Em português)

Udemy Portuguese 🇧🇷
Investigate public spending with the Brazilian Freedom of Information Act
4.6/5 · 428 students · 1.5 hours
›View on Udemy
Abraji Portuguese 🇧🇷
Kit de Ferramentas Gemini para Jornalistas
Free initiative by Abraji with Google support — video tutorials, prompts, AI agents and workflows for investigative journalists.
›Read more
Jeduca · Abraji Portuguese 🇧🇷
Jornalismo de Educação: Bases para a Cobertura
Free online course covering evaluation systems, data analysis, AI tools and source development for education reporters. 11 sessions.
›Read more