● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 negative
Brazil Orders Discord to Suspend Livestreaming Feature After Teen's Death
Key points
- Brazil's ANPD ordered Discord to suspend its "Go Live" livestreaming feature.
- Order follows investigation into a 13-year-old girl's death.
- Girl was allegedly pressured to self-harm during a Discord livestream.
- ANPD cited Discord's lack of real-time content access for detection.
- Suspension is until Discord implements safeguards for minors.
Livestreaming Feature Suspended
Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) has mandated the suspension of Discord's "Go Live" livestreaming feature. This directive comes as authorities investigate whether the platform failed to protect children from content promoting self-harm and suicide. The ANPD stated that the feature must remain disabled until Discord demonstrates the implementation of effective safeguards for children and teenagers.
Investigation into Teen's Death
The ANPD's investigation began on August 7, following the death of a 13-year-old girl in central-western Brazil. Authorities allege she was encouraged to harm herself during a 45-minute livestream on Discord in July. Five teenagers have been arrested in connection with the case, and police also intervened in a separate incident involving another girl preparing for suicide during an online broadcast.
Lack of Real-time Content Access
According to the ANPD, their investigation found that Discord lacks real-time access to livestream content. This absence prevents automated detection of violations, which the authority cited as a reason for the suspension. Discord allows users to create and join groups, where they can engage in real-time voice or video calls through the "Go Live" feature.
Discord's Response
Discord has stated it is "thoughtfully reviewing" the ANPD's order and is "committed to user safety." A spokesperson for the company affirmed that "groups or individuals who promote or encourage violence have no place on Discord." The company also stated it swiftly investigated and shut down the private, invite-only server involved shortly after its creation and continues to cooperate with law enforcement.
Broader Concerns
The investigation has also uncovered groups of teenagers allegedly using online communities, including Telegram, to spread neo-Nazi, antisemitic, and misogynistic material, recruit members, and discuss violent acts. Brazil’s national secretary for digital rights, Victor Fernandes, indicated that Discord and Telegram had violated rules intended to protect women.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) ordered Discord to disable its Go Live livestreaming feature following a 13-year-old's suicide that authorities say was encouraged during a Discord livestream. The ANPD found evidence that Discord failed to protect children from harmful content, particularly material promoting self-harm and violence, and the suspension will remain until Discord implements effective safeguards.
Brazil's data protection authority (ANPD) has ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature following an investigation into a 13-year-old girl's death, who was allegedly pressured to take her own life in a Discord server. The ANPD cited Discord's lack of real-time access to livestream content for automated violation detection, and the suspension will remain until Discord implements adequate protective measures for minors.