Brazil Enacts ECA Digital Law to Strengthen Online Child Protection

The Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (ECA) Digital, a new Brazilian law, was created in 2025 and came into force in March 2026 to address the lack of specific regulations protecting children and adolescents online. It targets cyber‑crimes such as exploitation, financial scams, illegal gambling advertising, and the use of platforms like Discord to lure minors, as well as responding to a rise in school‑related violence.

In a recent episode of the “Amperj Convida” podcast, prosecutor Gabriela Brandt explained how the law builds on earlier initiatives such as Operation Cathedral and the Henry Borel Law, emphasizing the need for broader awareness and coordinated action among institutions to prevent online sexual exploitation and other harms to youth.