Brazil ramps up crackdown on online sexual abuse of minors

The federal government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is intensifying measures against sexual crimes committed on the internet, especially targeting children and adolescents. National Digital Rights Secretary Victor Fernandes warned of an "epidemic of sexual crimes online" and cited UNICEF data indicating that one in five Brazilian adolescents aged 12‑17 has experienced technology‑facilitated sexual violence. New regulations reclassify platforms such as YouTube, requiring users to be at least 16 years old and imposing stricter age‑verification and parental‑control mechanisms under the Digital Child Protection Act.

In parallel, the Federal Police carried out a raid in the Fonseca neighbourhood of Niterói, seizing two mobile phones as part of an investigation into the storage and sharing of child sexual abuse material. The operation aims to gather evidence, identify victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

Brazil's legal framework also addresses non‑consensual sexual contact with women through Law 13.718/2018, which defines the crime of sexual harassment (importunação sexual). The law expands protection of sexual dignity beyond severe offences, emphasizing the need for clear consent in any sexual interaction.