Technology
Brazil sues Discord for $97 million over child safety failures
The federal lawsuit follows the arrest of five teenagers linked to a July suicide case.
The short version
- Brazil's federal government filed a lawsuit against Discord seeking $97 million in damages over alleged failures to protect children online.
- The suit demands that Discord enhance parental controls, broaden law enforcement cooperation, and deploy automated tools to remove hazardous content.
- Discord criticized the lawsuit as disproportionate, maintaining that it does not reflect the company's safety measures and compliance efforts in Brazil.
Key facts
- Brazil's government filed a 25-page lawsuit in federal court seeking 500 million reais (around $97 million) from Discord for alleged collective psychological harm.[Associated Press]
- The legal action follows a July suicide case linked to Discord that led to the arrest of five teenagers, according to Brazil's justice ministry.[Associated Press]
- The Solicitor-General's office alleges severe gaps in Discord's age-verification and user protection systems that violate Brazilian laws protecting vulnerable groups.[Associated Press]
- Discord stated that the Brazilian government's legal action is disproportionate and fails to accurately represent its safety practices.[Associated Press]
- Brazilian officials previously asked Discord to suspend live broadcasts following the July incident, and First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva advocated taking the platform offline.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the court will grant the requested financial damages or mandate the proposed operational changes to Discord's platform.[Associated Press]