Discord Given Ten-Day Judicial Deadline to Submit New User Protection Proposal to Government

The Federal Court in the Federal District has granted the Discord platform a deadline of ten business days to present a new conciliation proposal meeting the demands set by the federal government regarding user safety. The timeline was established during a conciliation hearing held at the 14th Federal Civil Court, bringing together corporate representatives and Brazilian state authorities.

The legal scrutiny intensified following the death of a 13-year-old girl in Naviraí, Mato Grosso do Sul, on July 22. According to police investigations and the Ministry of Justice, the victim was induced to commit suicide during a live stream hosted on the platform. Law enforcement audits also revealed that Discord and Telegram were utilized by malicious actors to recruit victims, spread hate speech, and encourage violent behaviors.

During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Discord itself informed the Ministry of Justice of a systemic security failure. Although the broadcast began at 2:20 AM, the initial notification concerning imminent risk of death or severe bodily harm was only issued at 3:50 AM, with the server being taken down at 4:15 AM. Additionally, the National Data Protection Authority reported robust evidence that the platform failed to implement reasonable measures to mitigate the exposure of minors to violence, self-harm, and suicide.

In response to these security gaps, the Solicitor General's Office filed a public civil lawsuit demanding R$ 500 million in collective moral damages. Judge Waldemar Cláudio de Carvalho presided over the session, leading to a partial understanding between the parties. Under the terms being negotiated, Discord must detail operational improvements, including a specialized protocol for reporting sextortion cases to authorities, enhanced detection and moderation tools for animal cruelty content, and data preservation protocols for ongoing criminal investigations.

Once the platform files its formal proposal, the federal government will have twenty business days to analyze the terms. Despite ongoing conciliation efforts, live streaming features within the application remain suspended under preventive measures ordered during concurrent administrative investigations by data protection regulators. To restore streaming functions, the company must demonstrate robust safety mechanisms protecting children and adolescents.

Broader regulatory discussions regarding platform accountability and digital ecosystem safety continue to shape technology policy worldwide, intersecting with topics such as the advancement of high-capacity AI models and safety protocols.

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