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The
move comes in the wake of a July suicide case linked to the
platform. Earlier this month, Brazil’s government pushed Discord
to suspend its live broadcasts in relation to the incident.
The Solicitor-General's office for President Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva said in a statement the damages it is seeking from Discord
are due to alleged collective psychological harm it has allowed.
Discord in Brazil said in a statement that the move by the
country’s government is “disproportionate” and “does not
accurately reflect Discord’s approach to safety and compliance
with Brazilian law.”
Brazil’s government’s 25-page long lawsuit, which was obtained
by The Associated Press, says there are severe gaps in its
age-verification systems and user safety protections.
The company has committed "direct violations to a number of
obligations and protective norms of Brazilian law, regarding the
special protections and safety of vulnerable groups, including
children and teenagers,” Brazil's Solicitor-General's office
said.
The office is also asking the court to order Discord to
immediately strengthen parental controls, expand cooperation
with local law enforcement, and deploy automated tools to detect
and remove dangerous content.
The filing also notes that Discord faces similar legal pressure
globally, including active lawsuits in U.S. states like Texas,
Nevada and New Jersey.
Lula, who is seeking reelection in October, and Brazil's Supreme
Court have tried to regulate the use of the internet by minors,
with mixed results so far, at a moment when countries, including
Australia, Canada and Indonesia, are undertaking similar
efforts.
Brazil’s first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja,
said on Aug. 6 that the platform should be taken offline, citing
the suicide case. Five teenagers were arrested in connection
with the death, according to Brazil’s justice ministry.
Discord has more than 90 million active daily users worldwide,
according to its website.
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