Brazil has passed a landmark law safeguarding children’s rights online, making it the first country in Latin America to implement such measures.
Why it matters
The new law, known as ECA Digital, updates Brazil’s 1990 Statute of the Child and Adolescent to cover the digital era. It compels technology companies to design platforms with children’s best interests in mind, restricts data exploitation, and bans behavioral advertising targeting minors.
Details
- Enforcement: Brazil’s data protection authority will oversee compliance starting March 2026.
- Penalties: Fines up to 50 million reais ($9.44 million) or 10% of local revenue; repeat violations could lead to suspensions or bans.
- Scope: Applies to all services children may reasonably use, covering privacy, profiling, and the use of minors’ images.
- Protections: Default privacy settings must favor children, and companies cannot exploit data for commercial profiling or behavioral targeting.
The big picture
The law follows investigations that revealed widespread misuse of children’s data, including images used to train AI models that later powered harmful deepfakes. Its passage positions Brazil as a global leader in digital child protection, offering a framework other countries may adopt.
Zoom out
ECA Digital comes amid rising international concern over online child safety. In 2023, the EU adopted similar rules under the Digital Services Act, while U.S. lawmakers continue to debate children’s online safety legislation. Brazil’s move strengthens momentum for global standards.
What’s next
Effective enforcement will determine the law’s success. Regulators are expected to engage civil society and youth groups in shaping implementation. Other Latin American countries may look to Brazil’s framework as a model for safeguarding children online.
Source: Human Rights Watch
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