Brazil ECA Digital
Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente Digital (Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents), Law No. 15,211 of September 17, 2025
Comprehensive child digital safety law applying to any IT product or service directed at or likely to be accessed by minors in Brazil, with extraterritorial reach.
Jurisdiction
Brazil
Enacted
Sep 17, 2025
Effective
Mar 17, 2026
Enforcement
Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD) in coordinating role; cross-agency framework established by Decree 12,880/2026
Enacted September 17, 2025; entered into force March 17, 2026 following 180-day vacatio legis. Implementing Decree 12,880/2026 published prior to effective date.
Diário Oficial da União — Lei Nº 15.211/2025Why It Matters
Comprehensive child digital safety statute with extraterritorial reach covering the full range of digital services accessible to minors. Explicitly addresses mental health harms including self-harm and suicide inducement, and prohibits emotional profiling for advertising — provisions with direct implications for AI companion and chatbot services.
Recent Developments
Implementing Decree 12,880/2026 published ahead of effective date, establishing cross-agency enforcement framework. Law entered into force March 17, 2026.
At a Glance
Who Must Comply
- Social networks, messaging apps, games, streaming platforms, search engines, online stores, operating systems, and any digital service accessible to minors in Brazil
- Extraterritorial: applies regardless of where service is developed, manufactured, or operated
Obligations fall on:
Applicability thresholds:
Safety Provisions
- Age-appropriate content evaluation and classification
- Prohibition of content inducing self-harm, suicide, or substance use
- Prevention of systematic virtual intimidation and cyberbullying
- Mandatory reporting of CSAM, grooming, sexual exploitation, kidnapping, and enticement to competent authorities
- Minimum 6-month data retention to support investigations
- Parental consent and supervision mechanisms
- Semi-annual transparency reports for platforms with 1M+ child/adolescent users
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Mar 17, 2026
Law enters into force
Penalties
Penalties pending regulatory determination
View on map
Brazil
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Brazil. (2025). Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente Digital (Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents), Law No. 15,211 of September 17, 2025.
Related Regulations
MX Safe Digital Environments Decree
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CN Minors Internet Use Provisions (draft)
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EU Kids Act (Proposed)
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UK OSA
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CA Bill C-34 (Safe Social Media Act)
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C-63
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Last updated April 16, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.