Brazilian lawmakers approve tough new social media rules to protect children online.
Brazil’s lower house of Congress has approved a new law that forces social media companies to take stronger steps to protect minors. The bill came after a major scandal involving a Brazilian influencer accused of exploiting a child.
The law introduces strict age verification rules and makes it mandatory for children under 16 to have accounts linked to their parents’ pages. The measure will take effect one year after the president signs it into law. The Senate must still give its final approval.
Regulating social media has become one of Brazil’s most heated debates. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has repeatedly said that online platforms need stronger oversight. He warned this week that “society will be under constant threat without regulation of big tech.”
But right-wing opposition parties have pushed back. They argue that the government and judiciary are using regulation to “censor” online platforms.
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The bill gained speed after the arrest of Hytalo Santos, a popular Brazilian influencer. He was accused of exposing minors to sexual content and posting videos with partially naked children in suggestive dances.
Police arrested him last week for “exposure with sexual connotations” to adolescents. His Instagram account is now offline. The scandal shocked the country and created strong public pressure on lawmakers to act.
Social networks must report suspected cases of child exploitation or sexual abuse to authorities under the new law. They must also link minors’ accounts to parental controls and closely monitor content aimed at children.
The law makes it clear that companies cannot rely on self-declaration for age checks. Instead, platforms must “continuously improve their age verification mechanisms.”
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Any company that breaks the law could face fines of up to 50 million reais (about $9 million). Repeat offenders could face suspensions or outright bans.
Brazil has become one of the world’s most active countries in regulating social media. Last year, courts suspended X for 40 days after it failed to follow anti-disinformation rules.
This week, the government also asked Meta to remove child-like chatbots on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp after finding that some of them were making sexually suggestive comments.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of Rumble after the platform refused to block the account of a Brazilian-American user. In June, the court also ruled that tech firms must take more responsibility for content posted by users.
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The new law highlights Brazil’s growing effort to hold social media companies accountable for child safety. If the Senate passes it, platforms will face tougher oversight than ever before.
