Brazilian Senate Approves “Adultization Bill” for Online Child Protection
The Brazilian Senate has enacted a significant legislative measure known as the “Adultization Bill,” aimed at fortifying protections for children and teenagers online. This follows recent modifications endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies and now awaits formal approval from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reports 24brussels.
This legislation prohibits the utilization of minors’ data for the formation of behavioral profiles aimed at targeted advertising. Platforms that fail to comply with these regulations may incur fines of up to 50 million reais or 10% of their revenue, alongside potential suspension or an outright ban on operations within Brazil.
Key components of the bill mandate measures to restrict minors’ access to illegal or inappropriate content for their age. It also establishes protocols for the immediate removal of material that contravenes children’s rights, requiring that data from users who post such content be preserved for six months.
The bill emphasizes the immediate removal of content related to child abuse or exploitation, alongside notifying relevant authorities. Additionally, parental control measures and age verification are compulsory for user accounts of individuals under the age of 16.
Senator Alessandro Vieira, the bill’s architect, stated, “We are responding to society’s concerns and addressing significant issues. Globally, the digital environment presents challenges, especially for vulnerable groups like children and teenagers.”
Despite the bill’s passage, opposition surfaced from Senators Carlos Portinho, Luiz Carlos Heinze, and Eduardo Girão. Notably, rapporteur Flávio Arns supported the Chamber of Deputies’ version but opted to exclude a clause mandating platforms to notify authorities and remove content related to pedophilia.
