Brazil sues online platform Discord for $97 million
SAO PAULO, Brazil: Brazil’s government has filed a lawsuit against Discord, seeking 500 million reais, or about US$97 million, over what it says are serious failures by the online platform to protect children and teenagers.
The case was filed in a federal court this week against Discord, a popular service that allows gamers and other users to communicate through text, voice and live broadcasts.
The government’s action follows a suicide case in July that was linked to activity on the platform. Earlier this month, Brazilian authorities had asked Discord to suspend its live-streaming features in connection with the incident.
The Solicitor-General’s Office, which represents President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government, said it was seeking compensation for what it described as collective psychological harm allegedly caused by Discord’s failure to provide adequate protection.
Discord’s Brazilian operation rejected the action and described it as “disproportionate”. The company said the lawsuit did not accurately represent its efforts to keep users safe or its compliance with Brazilian law.
The government’s 25-page lawsuit, obtained by The Associated Press, claims that Discord has major weaknesses in its systems for checking users’ ages and protecting people from harmful content.
The Solicitor-General’s Office accused Discord of directly violating several requirements under Brazilian law. It said the company had failed to meet legal duties designed to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children and teenagers.
The government has also asked the federal court to order Discord to take several immediate measures. These include improving parental controls, increasing cooperation with Brazilian police and other law enforcement agencies, and introducing automated systems that can identify and remove dangerous content.
The lawsuit also notes that Discord faces legal challenges in other countries. The company is currently involved in lawsuits in several US states, including Texas, Nevada and New Jersey, over issues related to online safety.
The Brazilian government’s action comes as President Lula and the country’s Supreme Court continue efforts to introduce stricter rules for minors using the internet. These efforts have produced mixed results so far.
Brazil is not alone in trying to increase protections for children online. Countries including Australia, Canada and Indonesia are also working on measures to regulate how minors use digital platforms and social media.
Brazil’s first lady, Rosângela Lula da Silva, widely known as Janja, called for Discord to be taken offline on August 6. She made the demand after the suicide case that authorities linked to the platform.
Brazil’s Justice Ministry said five teenagers had been arrested in connection with the death.
Discord says on its website that it has more than 90 million daily active users worldwide, making it one of the largest online communication platforms used by gamers and other communities.