Brazil has sued Discord in federal court over alleged failures to protect children online. The case sharpens pressure on the platform as authorities seek tougher safety measures after a teen suicide.
Brazil’s government said on Wednesday it has filed a lawsuit in a federal court against Discord, seeking 500 million reais, or about USD 97 million, in damages over the platform’s alleged failure to protect children online. The case comes after a suicide in July that was linked to the platform, as authorities step up scrutiny of online safety for minors.
The Solicitor-General’s office for President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva said the damages are being sought over alleged collective psychological harm that Discord had allowed. In response, Discord in Brazil said the government’s move is “disproportionate” and “does not accurately reflect Discord’s approach to safety and compliance with Brazilian law.”
According to Brazil’s 25-page lawsuit, obtained by The Associated Press, there are severe gaps in Discord’s age-verification systems and user safety protections. The Solicitor-General’s office said the company had committed “direct violations to a number of obligations and protective norms of Brazilian law, regarding the special protections and safety of vulnerable groups, including children and teenagers.”
The office has also asked the court to order Discord to immediately strengthen parental controls, expand cooperation with local law enforcement, and deploy automated tools to detect and remove dangerous content. Earlier this month, Brazil’s government had also pushed Discord to suspend its live broadcasts in relation to the July suicide case.
The filing said Discord is facing similar legal pressure in other parts of the world, including active lawsuits in US states such as Texas, Nevada and New Jersey. Lula, who is seeking re-election in October, and Brazil’s Supreme Court have been trying to regulate internet use by minors, with mixed results so far, at a time when countries including Australia, Canada and Indonesia are pursuing similar efforts.
Brazil’s first lady Rosngela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, said on August 6 that the platform should be taken offline, citing the suicide case. According to Brazil’s justice ministry, five teenagers were arrested in connection with the death. The lawsuit now seeks both damages and court-directed safety measures as Brazil presses Discord over child protection on its platform.
With PTI Inputs
