Discord, a U.S.-based communication platform, announced Monday that it has suspended its livestreaming features in Brazil. The company stated the action followed an order from Brazil's national data protection agency. The platform, which has more than 90 million active daily users globally, said it is currently in discussions with Brazilian authorities to find a solution that would allow the restoration of these services.
The suspension follows the death of a 13-year-old girl in Mato Grosso do Sul in July. According to government statements and reports from the nonprofit Safernet Brazil, the girl was allegedly coerced by other users into committing suicide. While Brazil's first lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva, and the national data protection agency cited the event as occurring during a livestream, Discord denied that the death was broadcast live. The company stated it had shut down the private server involved before the incident occurred.
Brazil's justice ministry reported on Aug. 4 that five teenagers were arrested in connection with the case. The national data protection agency stated on Wednesday that there was evidence the company had not sufficiently prevented risks of exposure to content that encourages violence or self-harm. Safernet Brazil reported that complaints involving Discord increased by 54% between January and July compared to the same period in the previous year.
The move sets a significant precedent for how the Brazilian government regulates international tech firms. Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the country has introduced laws requiring minors under 16 to link social media accounts to a legal guardian and mandating age verification. This enforcement action follows a previous 2024 Supreme Court order that shut down the social network X for non-compliance with disinformation orders. For parents and children in Brazil, these measures mean more frequent identity and age checks when accessing digital services, moving beyond simple self-declaration of age.
The restriction also carries international economic implications. The Trump administration has already cited Brazil's targeting of American social-media companies as a factor in imposing tariffs on Brazilian imports. Tech experts, such as Thiago Ayub of Sage Networks, suggest that such bans may cause users to migrate to other, less-monitored platforms, potentially complicating future law enforcement efforts. While Brazil is currently the focal point, other nations including the U.K. and Australia are watching these developments as they consider their own bans or restrictions on social media functions for minors under 16.
Discord stated it remains committed to working with public policymakers in Brazil. The company maintains that it has dedicated teams to remove violative content and disrupt violent groups. Further action depends on the outcome of the ongoing conversations between the company and the Brazilian national data protection agency.