Brazil Orders Discord to Suspend Livestreaming After a 13-Year-Old’s Death
August 13, 2026 – 8:28 am
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Brazil’s data protection authority has ordered Discord to temporarily suspend its livestreaming feature across the country, citing concerns about the platform’s failure to protect minors from harmful content.
The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) gave Discord three business days to disable the "Go Live" feature and similar video-sharing tools. While Discord remains accessible, users in Brazil are no longer able to broadcast live video until the company demonstrates adequate measures to safeguard children on its platform.
This order follows a tragic event: In July 2026, a 13-year-old girl from central-western Brazil took her own life after viewing a livestream of approximately 45 minutes where she was allegedly encouraged to harm herself by other users. Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with her death.
The ANPD found "robust evidence" that Discord had failed to prevent minors from accessing content promoting violence, self-harm, and suicide. The authority specifically criticized Discord’s reliance on automated systems and user reports, which they deemed ineffective for moderating live video streams in real time.
This case highlights the significant challenge of moderating live video content, as it is nearly impossible to scan, analyze, and flag harmful material before it goes viral. While automation and reporting mechanisms are crucial components of content moderation strategies, they often fall short when dealing with dynamic live broadcasts.
Discord responded by expressing cooperation with authorities in their investigation while refraining from direct concessions or challenges to the regulator’s findings.
This incident reflects a growing trend among Brazilian regulators, who have become increasingly assertive in holding platforms accountable for content on their services. In 2024, Brazil temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) over moderation disputes, signaling a willingness to override platform decisions when necessary. The current order against Discord demonstrates this approach applied to a more specific feature rather than a complete platform ban.
Brazil is not alone in this direction. European Union regulators have also taken action against TikTok under the Digital Services Act, targeting specific features they consider harmful to children. This trend suggests a global push for greater accountability and proactive measures to protect users from online harm.