Brazil Enacts Age Verification Law Mandating Digital ID, Curbing Net Anonymity
17 hours ago
- #Online Anonymity
- #Digital Regulation
- #Child Protection
- Brazil has enacted a new law requiring age verification on digital platforms to protect children.
- The law, known as the 'Adultization Bill' or 'Digital ECA,' applies to social media, online games, and other digital services.
- Platforms must implement safeguards against harmful content, including sexual exploitation, harassment, and predatory advertising.
- Age verification mechanisms, still undefined, could lead to digital ID systems linking online activity to real-world identities.
- The law aligns with global trends in the UK, EU, US states, and Australia, prioritizing child protection but potentially eroding online anonymity.
- President Lula framed the law as advancing digital sovereignty, balancing free speech with crime prevention.
- Parental controls are mandatory by default, including time limits, content filters, and geolocation blocking.
- Accounts for users under 16 must be linked to a verified adult for oversight.
- Noncompliance penalties include fines up to 10% of revenue in Brazil, capped at $10 million per violation.
- The law introduces infrastructure that could fundamentally change internet engagement, despite its child protection framing.