Brazil Sues Discord for $83 Million, Citing Dangers to Children

Brazil's government has initiated legal action against the popular communication platform Discord, demanding approximately 500 million reais (about $83 million) in damages. The lawsuit alleges that Discord has failed to comply with laws designed to protect women and children, despite being a widely used service by tens of millions globally, particularly among computer gamers.

The legal battle intensified after a tragic incident in July where a 13-year-old girl allegedly died by suicide after being pressured by teenagers on the platform. Reports indicate that the teens allegedly urged the girl to harm an animal first, and when she refused, they encouraged her to take her own life during a 45-minute live stream.

Following this event, Brazilian authorities ordered Discord to disable its live-streaming functionality. The platform complied, shutting down the feature in Brazil on August 17th, and stated its commitment to making Discord safer for young users. However, the government's lawsuit contends that the safety measures proposed by Discord have been inadequate to eliminate the risks posed to minors.

Authorities have engaged in discussions with Discord to explore potential improvements to the platform's safety features. Despite these talks, the government proceeded with the lawsuit, asserting that the company's responses have not sufficiently addressed the serious risks, particularly concerning the potential for online harassment and dangerous challenges among young users.