Brazil sues Discord for R$500 million over livestream age and safety gaps
A 13-year-old girl in Mato Grosso do Sul died on a Discord livestream in July after coercion. Three days after Discord appealed a livestream suspension, AGU filed in Brasília.
The Next Web: Brazil’s AGU sued Discord on Tuesday in a federal court for R$500 million, about $97 million, over age-verification and safety gaps. The meeting included Messias, Lula, and officials.
Collective moral damages would go to the Diffuse Rights Defence Fund. R$500,000 a day if non-compliant, and 15 days to comply, only if an injunction is granted.
I would start with the guardian link and the registered office. The R$500 million is the leverage.
The filing asks for a real-time block on self-harm and extreme violence in livestreams, a sextortion protocol, and age verification beyond a typed birthday. Under-16 accounts would be linked to a guardian.
Invite restrictions, a stop on banned-server recreation, and a Portuguese reporting channel. Moderation would have to be proportional to the Brazil base, plus a registered office and a legal representative in Brazil.
The Digital Statute, from March: no self-declared age, most protective defaults, and it applies wherever the company is.
A 17-year-old was pushed to self-harm. Indications a seven-year-old was targeted. The government says Discord neither detected, interrupted, nor reported.
ANPD: in early March Discord changed livestreaming and left it less protective. The livestream suspension stands.
Discord: the suit is “disproportionate” and does not reflect its approach. It says it was negotiating and offered technical changes plus financial investment.
Messias: Discord declined a formal commitment. AGU is open to settling.
Lula faces re-election in October. The first lady called for the platform to go offline this month. TikTok was fined the day before.
The registered office is still an ask.