Brazil agency orders Discord platform to suspend livestreaming over child safety concerns
BRASILIA, Aug 12 (Reuters) – Brazil’s data protection authority ANPD ordered chat platform Discord to suspend livestreaming features within three business days, citing failures to protect children and teens from exposure to content promoting violence, self-harm and suicide.
ANPD said Discord must prove compliance within three business days, and faces potential fines of up to 50 million reais ($9.67 million) per violation. The platform can appeal the decision within 10 business days, with further appeal to ANPD’s board possible.
• ANPD issued the measure on Wednesday, suspending Discord’s “Go Live” livestreaming feature.
• The suspension is set to stay until Discord proves implementation of adequate protective measures for minors, the agency said in a statement.
• ANPD said it found Discord lacks real-time access to livestream content, which prevents automated violation detection, and the platform relies on flawed systems and user reports.
• Discord made changes to “Go Live” in early March, after Brazil’s child digital protection statute was enacted, that made it less protective, the agency added.
• The ANPD investigation began last Friday after an incident in which investigators say a 13-year-old girl was persuaded to take her life by others in the online group she was part of
• Discord did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
• ($1 = 5.1718 reais)
(Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)