Brazil passes new law requiring age verification for minors online
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday signed a new law aimed at protecting children and adolescents from harmful digital content, covering social media, online games, and other digital services. The legislation, commonly called the “Adultization Bill” or “Digital ECA,” updates Brazil’s 1990 law guaranteeing minors’ rights and will take effect in 180 days.
In his announcement, Lula described the law as a step toward Brazil’s digital sovereignty, welcoming foreign companies that comply with national rules. He criticized Big Tech for failing to self-regulate, stressed the need for stronger protections for children, and issued a provisional decree granting autonomy to the National Data Protection Authority. The law requires digital platforms to adopt safeguards, limit data collection from minors, and impose penalties for violations. Companies must prevent exposure to illegal or inappropriate content, including sexual abuse, harassment, self-harm, gambling, and deceptive advertising, while providing parental control tools set by default to maximum protection. Age verification will now be mandatory, replacing self-declaration methods, and accounts for users under 16 must be linked to responsible adults. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their Brazilian revenue, capped at $10 million per violation.
Child protection experts hailed the law as robust and technically sound, noting that digital platforms carry both opportunities and risks for young users. Legal specialists highlighted that the law fills gaps left by existing frameworks, such as the Statute of Children and Adolescents, the Brazilian Internet Bill of Rights, and the General Data Protection Law, by providing specific protections for children online. The legislation gained momentum following viral social media content and high-profile arrests highlighting child exploitation online, and data from SaferNet Brasil shows a significant increase in reported cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation in 2025. Experts warn that generative AI is amplifying these risks by enabling the creation of sexualized images of children, widely shared beyond dark web networks.
The law obliges companies to establish technical teams for content removal, reporting channels, and protection systems, while discouraging monetization of content that violates children’s rights. Specialists emphasized the need for complementary measures, including content rating systems and safe internet education in schools. Analysts also identified challenges in enforcing the law, including implementing age verification without digital exclusion, adapting global platforms to local standards, and ensuring compliance. Observers say the legislation positions Brazil alongside countries like England in terms of online child protection, but stressed that successful implementation will be key to its effectiveness.
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