Starting this Tuesday, March 17, the new rules of the Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA) regarding the protection of minors on the internet take effect. The text establishes a series of obligations to be fulfilled by social networks, streaming platforms, messaging applications, online games, adult websites, and other digital service providers operating in Brazil.
Considered a watershed moment in digital regulation, the Digital ECA was approved by Congress and sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in September 2025, under strong public pressure amid scandals involving the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents on social media. The trigger occurred following a report by YouTuber Felca concerning influencer Hytalo Santos, currently imprisoned in Paraíba and serving an eleven-year and four-month sentence for exploiting minors.
* Translation by Licks Attorneys. This content is available on the Veja.
