Brazil has ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming features while authorities investigate whether the platform failed to protect children from content encouraging self-harm and suicide. The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) said Wednesday that Discord’s Go Live feature must remain disabled until the company can demonstrate effective safeguards to protect children and teenagers.
The order follows the death of a 13-year-old girl in central-western Brazil, who authorities say was encouraged to harm herself during a roughly 45-minute livestream on Discord in July. Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with the case, and police also intervened in a separate incident involving a girl preparing to die by suicide during an online broadcast.
Evidence of Safety Failures
The ANPD stated that it found “robust evidence” that Discord failed to take reasonable steps to protect children and teenagers from harmful content, particularly material promoting or facilitating violence, self-harm, or suicide. The regulator emphasized that Discord itself is not being blocked in Brazil; the order applies only to the Go Live feature.
Brazil’s national secretary for digital rights, Victor Fernandes, criticized Discord and Telegram for violating rules intended to protect women and children online. He noted that a suicide was livestreamed on Discord, and the material remained available for some time before being removed.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities are also investigating whether Discord has adequate age-verification systems and whether the company failed to remove prohibited content or properly report violations. If violations are confirmed, Discord could face fines of up to 50 million Brazilian reais, or roughly $10 million, per violation.
Discord has stated that it is reviewing the order and called the decision to suspend livestreaming in Brazil “premature.” The company expressed its commitment to working with policymakers in Brazil to promote a safer online experience for all users.
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