Brazil to Enforce Sweeping Online Protections for Minors, Targeting Gambling and Pornography Access

Brazil Finalizes Landmark Online Safety Law for Youth

Brazil is poised to enact comprehensive legislation aimed at safeguarding children and adolescents in the digital realm, with a new law, Law No. 15.211, also known as the Digital ECA (Estatuto Digital da Criança e do Adolescente), scheduled to take effect on March 17, 2026. Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on September 17, 2025, this landmark legislation mandates stringent measures to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate online content, including gambling and pornography.

The Brazilian government is currently preparing a decree, anticipated by the end of February 2026, to outline the specific implementation rules for this new law. This decree will detail the age-verification requirements for app stores and digital platforms.

Mandatory Age Verification and Content Restrictions

The Digital ECA applies broadly to all digital products and services that are either 'aimed at' or 'likely to be accessed' by minors within Brazil, irrespective of the provider's geographical location. This extensive scope encompasses a wide array of online services, including:

• Social networks
• Messaging applications
• Video-sharing platforms
• Online games
• App stores
• Streaming services
• Adult content websites

Under the new regulations, tech companies will be legally obligated to prevent minors from accessing content that features violence, pornography, sexual exploitation, drugs, gambling, or encourages self-harm. The law also extends to content related to escort services, alcohol, dating applications, and weapons.

A critical component of the law is the requirement for robust age-verification mechanisms. Platforms will no longer be permitted to rely solely on users' self-declared ages. Instead, they must implement 'reliable,' 'proportionate,' 'auditable,' and 'technically secure' systems to verify users' ages. The Brazilian government intends to develop its own national age-verification system for operators to integrate, which will include safeguards to protect user data privacy.

Parental Supervision and Data Protection at the Forefront

Beyond age verification, the Digital ECA introduces significant provisions for parental oversight and data protection. Tech companies will be required to establish tools that enable parents and legal guardians to manage account settings, monitor content access, and control data processing for their children. Social media profiles for children under the age of 16 must be linked to a legal guardian.

The law explicitly prohibits the processing of children's personal data in ways that infringe upon their privacy and bans the use of such data for targeted advertising. Any data collected for age verification purposes can only be used for that specific function.

Enforcement and International Context

The Brazilian National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has been designated as the body responsible for the implementation, oversight, and regulation of the Digital ECA. Non-compliance with the new law carries substantial penalties, including warnings, fines that can reach up to 50 million Brazilian Reais (approximately $9 million USD) per violation, temporary suspension of services, or even a permanent ban from operating within Brazil.

Brazil's initiative marks it as the first Latin American nation to establish such dedicated online privacy and safety protections for children. This move aligns with a growing global trend among countries to tighten online regulations for minors, reflecting increasing concerns about the impact of digital content on youth.