Discord ends on Monday, the 17th, the deadline stipulated by the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) to cease live streaming in Brazilian territory. This determination also covers similar video sharing functionalities.
The preventive action was implemented after an inspection conducted by the agency, which identified failures in safeguarding children and adolescents on the platform. The suspension must last until the service proves the adoption of mechanisms considered efficient to mitigate such risks.
This move occurs due to the validity of the Digital ECA, which imposes security requirements on digital services accessible to minors. The incident gained prominence after the platform admitted failures in responding to a broadcast involving a 13-year-old girl.
The ANPD had determined on Wednesday, the 12th, that Discord should halt lives in the country, granting a period of three business days for the platform to comply with the order. Thus, the service should not keep this functionality active in Brazil starting Tuesday, the 18th.
The agency began the oversight process on the previous Friday, the 7th, due to issues related to the protection of young people and children in the Discord digital environment. According to the regulatory body, the platform was repeatedly used for violations against minors, including cases of violence, harassment, and encouragement of self-harm and suicide.
The scope of the decision goes beyond live streams, encompassing other video sharing features classified as equivalent by the regulatory authority.
Discord formally contested the determination, classifying it as premature. In a statement sent to the ANPD on Friday, the 14th, the company declared that it is constantly working to make the environment safer and refuted any link between its services and practices of violence, self-harm, or encouragement of harmful acts.
In the same document, the company requested the annulment of the suspension, arguing that the three-business-day period given by the agency was insufficient for the company to execute the determination.
Previously, Discord had submitted a proposal of measures aimed at increasing the protection of its users, with a special focus on children and adolescents. This document was sent to the Attorney General's Office (AGU) on Monday, the 10th, following meetings that brought together the company, the ANPD, the AGU, and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
The discussion intensified after Discord acknowledged problems in its alert system in an episode involving a 13-year-old adolescent. The company itself reported that the first notification about imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury was registered at 3:50 AM, but the server removal only occurred at 4:15 AM.
Maria Mello, from the Alana Institute, commented in an interview with g1 that the platform's reaction will be crucial in determining whether the suspension achieves the expected goal. She stressed that the evaluation will depend on compliance with the requirements and the continuation of the stream block until effective safety tools are developed.
The specialist also warned that child exploitation situations can arise outside of Discord. She observed that the approach between criminals and adolescents can occur on other social networks before migrating to the private spaces of the platform where streams take place.
In this context, Mello advocates that age verification of users should be an initial step in protection. Furthermore, she considers the use of artificial intelligence essential to identify signs of grooming, coercion, and exploitation, allowing for agile responses in high-risk cases.
Marie Santini, director of the Laboratory of Internet and Social Network Studies at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (NetLab UFRJ), positively evaluated the suspension imposed by the ANPD. For her, the measure can serve as a model for other platforms to strengthen their protection systems.
However, the researcher emphasized that norms alone do not guarantee safety. In her view, companies need to demonstrate transparency and be subject to monitoring mechanisms that generate practical results in their operation.
One of the pillars used by the ANPD to suspend Discord lives is the Digital Child and Adolescent Statute, which has been in effect since March 17 of this year. This legislation extends protections provided for children and adolescents to the virtual environment.
The rules are not limited to services created exclusively for the youth audience; they also cover digital platforms where access by children and adolescents is likely. Among the requirements are preventive measures against sexual abuse, violence, harassment, self-harm, suicide, pornography, drugs, and gambling.
The legislation also requires content adaptation to age groups, reliable age verification methods, and the protection of minors' personal data. Platforms must provide parental monitoring resources and take action against excessive use of services. For large corporations, obligations also include restrictions on profiling minors for advertising purposes, in addition to audit mechanisms and periodic reports.
Failure to comply with these guidelines can result in penalties. In Discord's specific case, the suspension of streams remains conditional on proving that measures capable of effectively protecting children and adolescents have been implemented.
