backAnalysis – Technology & Regulation — Published in 2026
Understand how the Digital ECA redefines platform liability
The approval of the so-called Digital ECA marks a new chapter in the regulation of the online environment in Brazil, expanding the protection of children and adolescents in the digital space and establishing clearer obligations for platforms, apps, and online services. The legislation updates the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA) to address the challenges of the internet and the digital economy.
Among the most relevant changes are requirements related to age verification, content moderation, parental control tools, and greater transparency in how platforms operate. Companies will also have the duty to prevent minors from being exposed to harmful content and to implement risk-mitigation mechanisms in their digital services.
According to Alan Campos Thomaz, partner at Campos Thomaz Advogados, the Digital ECA represents an important shift in the platform liability model.
“The new legislation reinforces that technology companies cannot act merely as neutral intermediaries when there is a direct impact on the fundamental rights of children and adolescents,” he says.
According to Alan, the new regulatory framework requires platforms to adopt a more proactive approach to risk management.“The Digital ECA introduces a logic of preventive governance, in which companies must assess and mitigate risks from the design stage of their digital products and services,” he notes.
In his assessment, the new law is likely to accelerate broader debates on algorithmic accountability, content moderation, and the protection of vulnerable users in the digital environment.“The challenge will be balancing technological innovation with effective mechanisms for protection and accountability,” he concludes.
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