Brazil sues Discord after teen live-streams suicide
Translated from Polish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- Brazil is suing Discord for $97 million after a 13-year-old girl live-streamed her suicide on the platform.
- The government alleges Discord caused "collective moral damages" and failed to implement adequate safety measures.
- Authorities sought user age verification and parental linkage for minors, but Discord allegedly refused concessions.
Brazil has filed a lawsuit against the communication platform Discord, seeking $97 million in damages following the tragic live-streamed suicide of a 13-year-old girl. The lawsuit alleges that the platform failed to adequately protect its young users and contributed to "collective moral damages."
the government of Brazil sued Discord for compensation in the amount of $97 million.
According to Prosecutor General Jorge Messias, Brazilian authorities attempted to reach an amicable solution with Discord's management. However, these efforts failed as the company allegedly refused to implement safety measures demanded by the government. These measures included a system for age verification, mandatory linking of accounts for users under 16 to their parents or guardians, and the immediate blocking of criminal or dangerous content.
the company 'did not want to make concessions serving to ensure user safety online'.
Messias stated that Discord's refusal to adapt its operations to Brazilian law, which aims to protect children and adolescents online, left authorities with no alternative but to pursue legal action. The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) had previously suspended live-streaming capabilities on the platform in Brazil following the incident.
we were left with nothing else but to hand the case over to the judiciary.
The investigation revealed harrowing details: the 13-year-old victim had engaged in self-harm during previous live broadcasts before her fatal act. During the 45-minute stream of her suicide, participants allegedly pressured the girl to harm herself and proceed with the act. Several teenagers have been arrested in connection with the case. The article also provides contact information for mental health support hotlines in Poland.
the platform's management 'refused to adapt its operations to Brazilian law that protects children and adolescents when using the internet'.
About this summary
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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