Brazil enacts new laws to combat sexual violence against minors

Brazil has implemented significant legislative changes to combat sexual violence against children and adolescents. Law 15.487/2026, sanctioned in August, expands criminal penalties and introduces new aggravating factors. This law specifically addresses crimes committed in digital environments and those involving the use of artificial intelligence, covering the production, sale, and storage of sexual violence content.

The new law modifies several legal frameworks, including the Penal Code, the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), and the Law on Heinous Crimes. Under the updated ECA, producing or distributing such content can result in 4 to 10 years of imprisonment.

In a related legislative effort, Federal Deputy Fernando Marangoni has proposed Bill 2.861/2026. This proposal seeks to increase penalties for obscene acts committed in public facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and transport hubs, with the aim of providing specific legal protection for children and adolescents in collective spaces.