Brazil implements ‘ECA Digital’ to regulate online platforms

Brazil has established the ‘ECA Digital’ as of March 2026, a legislative milestone resulting from social movement advocacy to regulate digital platforms, social networks, games, and applications. The law aims to protect children and adolescents in an environment where 92% of Brazilians aged 9 to 17 are connected.

Key provisions of the regulation include mandatory age verification through reliable mechanisms, default privacy settings, parental supervision tools, and a prohibition on behavioral profiling and targeted advertising for minors. Additionally, the law addresses the regulation of children's games and requires platforms to implement more protective configurations.

Experts emphasize the importance of digital education to combat cyberbullying, data sharing risks, and the impact of excessive screen time. Education also focuses on helping users recognize manipulative design patterns and persuasive techniques used by influencers and platforms to capture attention.