backThe Senate approved Bill 2,628/2022, which creates the Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents and sets rules to protect minors in digital environments. The proposal requires providers to immediately remove content involving child abuse or exploitation and notify authorities; mandates age verification (self-declaration is prohibited) and parental-control tools with maximum protection by default—such as blocking contact with unauthorized adults, limiting features that encourage excessive use, and restricting geolocation. Platforms with more than 1 million underage users must publish semiannual reports on moderation and risk. The text also bans targeted advertising to children and teenagers and the use of emotion analysis or AR/VR for that purpose, and restores a prohibition on “loot boxes” for minors.
Oversight will be carried out by an autonomous administrative authority (to be created by law and modeled on regulatory agencies), and noncompliance can lead to warnings, fines of up to 10% of a company’s revenue in Brazil (or up to BRL 50 million per violation, depending on criteria), and, in extreme cases, suspension of activities by the judiciary. The vote drew broad support, though some senators voiced concerns about potential overregulation of social networks. According to the bill’s sponsors and rapporteurs, the law aims to strengthen the role of parents and guardians and adapt products and services to children and adolescents, without allowing mass surveillance or infringing freedom of expression. The bill now goes to the president for signature.
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