TikTok under investigation in Brazil for mercury mining advertisements

The Brazilian Federal Public Ministry (MPF) has launched a civil inquiry to investigate TikTok's responsibility regarding content that offers metallic mercury to users in Brazil. The substance is prohibited in Brazilian mining due to its high toxicity and association with severe environmental contamination and neurological health risks.

Investigators identified three coordinated profiles that published 108 posts offering mercury with a declared purity of 99.999%, accumulating approximately 5.85 million views. The content specifically targeted Brazilian users with terms such as “Dono de Garimpo” (Mine Owner) and “Para o Seu Garimpo” (For Your Mine), directing interested parties to private messaging channels to negotiate purchases.

The MPF investigation suggests that the dissemination of this illegal substance was not merely a result of user searches but was facilitated by the platform's own recommendation system.