Brazil: Bill on mandatory removal of content depicting animal abuse on social media (PL 180/2026) was introduced in Chamber of Deputies

On 3 February 2026, the Bill on mandatory removal of content depicting animal abuse on social media (PL 180/2026) was introduced in the Chamber of Deputies. It establishes rules prohibiting the publication and requiring the immediate removal of content displaying acts of cruelty, abuse, or animal mistreatment on internet applications. It amends Art. 19 of Law No. 12,965 of 23 April 2014 (Internet Civil Framework) by adding § 5º, which removes the requirement for a prior court order for provider liability in cases of animal mistreatment under Art. 32 of Law No. 9,605/1998. Providers are required to make such content unavailable within 24 hours of the first report by a user or authority, under penalty of joint liability. Social media platforms are required to implement intelligence mechanisms and filters to preventively identify and block content displaying extreme violence against animals, permanently suspend the accounts of users who produce, publish, or monetise animal cruelty content, and preserve connection data and records for 180 days for police investigation purposes. Non-compliance may result in a warning, a daily fine of up to BRL 100'000, or temporary suspension of activities in Brazil in cases of repeated non-compliance.