Minas Gerais court upholds fine against influencer for social media insults

The 17th Civil Chamber of the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais upheld a ruling ordering a digital influencer in Ipatinga to pay R$ 7,000 in moral damages to a teenager. The court determined that the influencer used discriminatory and derogatory terms regarding the youth's physical appearance on social media.

The conflict originated after the teenager, who managed a social media page commenting on local personalities, posted content involving the influencer and her family. In response, the influencer attacked the minor's appearance. While the influencer and her husband were initially sentenced to pay the indemnity and were issued an injunction to cease depreciative posts, the court removed the husband from the conviction due to a lack of evidence regarding physical threats or aggression.

During the appeal, the influencer claimed self-defense, arguing her posts were a response to the teenager's attempts to generate engagement. However, the rapporteur, Judge Roberto Vasconcellos, emphasized that freedom of expression is not an absolute right and must respect the honor and image of others, particularly children and adolescents protected under the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA).