Brazil's AGU filed a civil lawsuit against Discord over alleged child-safety failures under the ECA Digital.
Why it matters: The case raises the cost of noncompliance for platforms in Brazil, where child-safety rules are moving from regulation into court. It also signals how regulators in other countries may use similar digital-child-protection laws to pursue litigation, product changes and penalties.
- Brazil's Attorney General's Office filed the lawsuit on Aug. 25, according to the Justice Ministry.
- The government is seeking R$500 million in collective moral damages and stronger child-safety measures.
- Officials say Discord failed to use effective age-verification and user-protection tools required under Brazil's ECA Digital.
- Brazil's ANPD separately opened an enforcement process on Aug. 7 and later ordered Discord to suspend live-streaming in Brazil after the July 22 case involving a 13-year-old girl.
Brazil has escalated its scrutiny of Discord from enforcement to litigation. The Justice Ministry said the federal government, through the Attorney General's Office, filed a civil public lawsuit on Aug. 25 in Federal District court seeking R$500 million in damages and stronger child-safety measures. The ministry said the case is intended to enforce Brazil's ECA Digital child online protection rules.
The government alleges Discord did not put in place effective age verification and user-protection tools. The ANPD, Brazil's data protection authority, separately opened an enforcement process on Aug. 7 to examine possible failures in protecting children and adolescents. The agency said it was looking into possible failures related to child safety on the platform.
On Aug. 12, ANPD ordered Discord to suspend live-streaming in Brazil after finding evidence that the feature was being used in ways that endangered minors. Discord said in a community letter that it complied with the order and worked with the regulator and law enforcement. Co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy said live video and screen-sharing were unavailable to Brazilian users starting Aug. 17. Discord said it was acting in good faith with ANPD.
The immediate catalyst was a July 22 case in Mato Grosso do Sul involving the death of a 13-year-old girl after a coordinated harm campaign, authorities said, involving Discord. SaferNet Brasil said reports involving Discord rose to 406 in January-July 2026 from 264 in the same period of 2025. SaferNet said it forwarded technical documentation to authorities.
By the numbers
- R$500 million - damages sought by Brazil in the lawsuit.
- 406 - reports involving Discord in January-July 2026, up from 264 in the same period of 2025.
- 54% - increase in those reports year over year, according to SaferNet Brasil.
Yes, but: The filing and enforcement timeline needs careful reading: the Justice Ministry's notice says the lawsuit was filed on Aug. 25, while the ANPD actions began earlier in August and Discord's public response followed after that.
What's next: ANPD and the court case are now the key venues to watch for potential penalties, product restrictions or further compliance orders.