Government and Discord participate in conciliation hearing on the protection of minors
Quick Look
- In a conciliation hearing at the Federal Court of DF, the government and Discord discussed measures to protect children and adolescents after the AGU action asking for R$500 million in compensation for moral damages.
- The case gained repercussion after the suicide of a 13-year-old teenager in Mato Grosso do Sul, allegedly induced on the platform.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The AGU's action seeks for Discord to adopt effective measures to protect children, adolescents and women in the digital environment, according to ECA Digital, after criticism about failures in content moderation and age verification.
This Wednesday (2), the platform and the government participated in a conciliation hearing, held by the Federal Court of the Federal District.
Once the proposal is presented, the government will have 20 working days to analyze the content. Representatives of the Digital Rights Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (Sedigi/MJSP) and the National Data Protection Agency (ANPD) also participated in the hearing.
🔎Discord is a communication platform widely used by online game players and also by teenagers. The company has been the target of criticism and investigations related to failures in content moderation and user age verification.
The hearing was scheduled after the Attorney General's Office (AGU) presented an action for the Discord platform to adopt effective measures to protect children, adolescents and women in the digital environment, in accordance with the requirements of Brazilian legislation, in particular those established by ECA Digital.
The action also asks that Discord be ordered to pay compensation for moral damages in the amount of R$500 million.
Discord came into the sights of authorities after the discovery that a 13-year-old teenager from Mato Grosso do Sul committed suicide after being incited during a broadcast on the platform. The police investigate the case. Most of those suspected of inciting the girl are minors.
The federal government negotiated with Discord adjustments to its control mechanisms, scheduled to be formalized in a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC), before the action was filed.
The measures proposed by the company, however, were not considered sufficient to eliminate the risks highlighted. Even after going to court, AGU says it remains open to an agreement.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The government will have 20 working days to analyze the conciliation proposal presented at the hearing.
Very likely · Within days
The AGU will remain open to an agreement even after the action is filed.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific measures did Discord propose in the TAC?
- Why did the government consider the proposals insufficient?
- What is the deadline for the action to be judged in Federal Court?
- Will the compensation of R$500 million be discussed in the negotiation phase?
