Brazil advances legislation on age and identity verification in digital services
Brazil is moving forward with legislation requiring reliable age and identity verification on digital platforms to protect children online. The bill targets harmful content, underage access, and the rise of kidfluencers, while raising questions about privacy and data protection.
Brazilian lawmakers are pushing forward with new legislation that would require reliable age and identity verification systems on digital platforms. The bill, known as PL 3910/2025, is designed to protect children and adolescents in online environments where harmful or inappropriate content is widespread.
What the bill proposes
The bill introduces several key requirements for digital service providers:
- Preventing underage access: Platforms not designed for minors must implement systems to block children and teenagers from using their services. These systems could include biometric age verification technologies.
- Risk assessments: Platforms that target or are accessible to minors must evaluate risks to youth safety and well-being, and ensure content aligns with age classifications. They must also block illegal or harmful material, including content that sexualizes children.
- Pornographic content rules: Sites hosting pornographic content would be required to use strict age and identity verification to stop minors from creating accounts or accessing material. Data collected for verification could only be used for confirming age—not for advertising or other purposes.
Noncompliance would bring heavy penalties, including fines of up to 10% of a company’s revenue or per-user fines capped at 50 million Brazilian Reais (around USD 9.1 million). Money collected would go to Brazil’s National Fund for Children and Adolescents.
Why this matters in Brazil
Brazil has one of the highest rates of internet use among young people. According to surveys, 95% of children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 are online, and 83% have social media or WhatsApp accounts. Many are exposed to harmful content, while others are joining the growing ranks of ‘kidfluencers’ – child influencers earning money through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This often conflicts with child labour laws and raises concerns about exploitation.
A survey in April 2025 found that 90% of Brazilian adults believe teenagers lack adequate emotional and social support to handle online risks, especially on social networks. Parents often monitor internet use until age 12, but oversight drops sharply between 13 and 17, leaving older teens more vulnerable.
Broader legislative context
This bill is one of several digital safety measures being considered. Another bill, PL 2628/22, would require platforms to immediately remove illegal content, including material involving child exploitation, violence, racism, and religious intolerance. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed support for these efforts and is backing further related legislation.
Brazil is also tightening age rules on platforms. Recently, the government raised the minimum Instagram user age from 14 to 16, citing frequent exposure to sex, nudity, violence, and drug-related content.
