Brazil: Bill on the Protection of Children and Adolescents in the Digital Environment (PL 94/2026) including prohibition of access to digital social networks for children under 16 was introduced to Chamber of Deputies

On 2 February 2026, the Bill on the Protection of Children and Adolescents in the Digital Environment (PL 94/2026) including prohibition of access to digital social networks for children under 16 was introduced to Chamber of Deputies. The Bill defines digital social networks as platforms that allow the creation of personal profiles, promote social interaction, use content recommendation algorithms, or enable media sharing. This scope includes platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, and Twitch. The Bill prohibits the penalisation of minors or their parents. Supervision is conducted by the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) alongside the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and Guardianship Councils. Platforms failing to enforce the prohibition face administrative sanctions, including warnings and fines of up to 2% of annual revenue in Brazil, limited to BRL 500'000'000 per infraction. Serious or repeated violations may lead to the temporary suspension of activities or the blocking of the platform within national territory. Certain services are exempt from these restrictions, such as private messaging applications without public feeds, educational platforms, and digital services designed for children with active parental controls. The legislation is scheduled to enter into force 180 days after its official publication.