Brazil's 'Gato' Underground Economy: Energy, Water, and Cybercrime Networks Thrive Amid State Absence

The article examines Brazil's clandestine 'gato' industry—illegal connections for energy, water, and internet—which ranges from individual bill evasion to organized crime and international cybercrime networks. The state's inability to regulate or enforce enables this underground economy, posing risks to infrastructure integrity and public safety. The piece highlights the complexity of distinguishing between petty theft and sophisticated criminal operations.