Discord’s Livestreaming Feature Suspended by Brazil’s Data Protection Authority Following Tragedy
Brazil’s data protection authority (ANPD) has ordered Discord to halt its livestreaming functionality, in response to the tragic death of a 13-year-old girl who allegedly ended her life after being pressured during a livestream on the platform. The investigation into the incident by the ANPD commenced on 7 August.
Discord’s Response and Cooperation
The “Go Live” feature on Discord enables users to host voice or video calls in real time, within interest-based groups. Following the incident, Discord’s spokesperson emphasised their commitment to user safety, stating that the service swiftly terminated the server implicated in the event and committed to ongoing cooperation with law enforcement.
Discord has stated that they are thoroughly examining the ANPD’s directive. They highlighted that both prior to and following the creation of the Discord server, the criminal activities were coordinated on different platforms, and continued even after the individuals involved were banned from Discord.
Implementation of Protective Measures
The ANPD found that Discord’s inability to access real-time livestream content hampers the detection of policy violations automatically. As a measure to rectify this, Discord is required to demonstrate the implementation of effective protective mechanisms for minors, which might include integrating age verification systems. The platform has three days to enforce the suspension but can contest the ruling within a 10-business-day timeframe.
Potential Consequences and Comparisons
If Discord fails to comply with these measures, it could incur fines of up to 50 million reais ($9.67 million) per violation. The incident mirrors an earlier situation where the social media platform X faced a ban in Brazil in August 2024, later lifted in October 2024 after compliance with legal requirements and payment of accumulated fines amounting to 28 million reais ($5.1 million; £3.8 million).
Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with the girl’s death, as authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.