The Brazilian government has filed a lawsuit against the chat platform Discord, seeking $97 million in damages for alleged failures to protect children and teenage users. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, follows what the government describes as unsuccessful negotiations with the company regarding child safety issues online. The complaint states that Discord did not comply with laws aimed at safeguarding young users on social media. The government seeks to compel Discord to implement effective measures to protect children, adolescents, and women in the digital environment, as well as compensation for 'collective moral damages.'
Discord has responded, arguing that the lawsuit is excessively harsh and misrepresents its compliance with Brazilian laws. This lawsuit is part of a broader trend of social media companies facing scrutiny for exposing young users to harmful content and contributing to mental health issues. Critics argue that tech companies have been slow to adopt protective measures, despite evidence linking excessive social media use to mental health problems among youth.
Tech companies contend that they should not be held accountable for all content on their platforms or for user interactions with the software. In July, scrutiny intensified for Discord following a tragic incident in Mato Grosso do Sul, where a 13-year-old girl died by suicide during a livestream after being pressured by peers. Four teenagers and one adult have been arrested in connection with this case. In response, Brazil's National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) ordered Discord to suspend livestream services on August 12. First Lady Rosangela Lula da Silva also called for the platform to be taken down. Although Discord announced plans to enhance safety for teens, the Brazilian government claims that the company still has deficiencies in its age verification and user protection mechanisms. Additionally, the ANPD fined TikTok $30 million for child privacy violations, reflecting the Brazilian government's increasing focus on these issues.