Zona de Azar Brasil – Brazil: Child and Adolescent Protection in Digital Environments Goes to the Chamber

Brazil.- November 28, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com The Commission for Communication and Digital Law (CCDD) approved, in two rounds of voting on Wednesday (27), the bill aimed at protecting children and adolescents in digital environments.

Bill PL 2,628/2022, authored by Senator Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), was approved in the form of a substitute presented by Senator Flávio Arns (PSB-PR). It will now proceed to the Chamber of Deputies unless a request for a plenary vote is filed.

The project establishes rules for social media, apps, websites, games, software, and virtual products or services, requiring providers to implement age verification mechanisms, impose internet supervision by guardians, create abuse notification systems, and offer privacy-enhancing configurations, among other measures.

It mandates all technology products and services to actively prevent use by children and teenagers if not designed for or suitable to this audience. Providers must also prevent bullying, sexual exploitation, and patterns that promote addiction or disorders.

Children under 12
The original proposal banned children under 12 from creating social media accounts. However, the updated text allows accounts linked to a legal guardian’s profile. A 2023 TIC Kids Online Brasil study found that 75% of Brazilian children accessed the internet for the first time before turning 12.

Sexual abuse
The bill requires providers to implement systems to report child exploitation or abuse and mandates the removal of reported content immediately, banning anonymous reports. Providers must retain data for investigations.

Loot boxes
The bill bans loot boxes, citing their resemblance to gambling, which can foster addiction.

Advertising
It prohibits targeted advertising for minors through profiling techniques and requires clear labeling of promotional content. It also restricts discriminatory or harmful messaging.

Data protection
Providers must ensure consent for data use is obtained from guardians and prohibit excessive data collection or behavioral profiling for minors.

Penalties
Sanctions include warnings, suspension, service bans, and fines up to 10% of annual company revenue or R$ 50 million per violation.

Universal design
It incorporates the concept of universal design, ensuring accessibility for children and adolescents according to their biopsychosocial development.

Agência Senado (Reproduction authorized with citation to Agência Senado)
Source: Agência Senado

Edited by: @_fonta
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