Brazil orders suspension of Discord livestreams after teen suicide

Brazil’s data protection agency on Wednesday, August 12, ordered Discord to suspend livestreams, accusing the messaging platform of failing to protect children and adolescents after a teen girl was allegedly incited to commit suicide during a broadcast.

In a case described by one police officer as a “real-life horror show,” a 13-year-old girl in a small city in the center-west of Brazil was incited during a 45-minute July livestream on Discord to self-harm and eventually kill herself. Five teenagers have been arrested in connection to the death and a police operation saved “another girl who was about to commit suicide live on the internet,” a police statement said.

“Live streams have been repeatedly used to facilitate violence, harassment and the incitement of self-harm and suicide,” said the ANPD data protection agency, which gave Discord three days to comply with the suspension.

The ANPD cited “robust evidence that the company failed to adopt reasonable measures” to protect children and teenagers from such content. In a statement sent to AFP, Discord said it was “disappointed” but was “carefully analysing” the ANPD directive. It rejected the agency’s “characterization” of the platform.

Discord said it had investigated and removed the invite-only group involved in the case and continued to co-operate with law enforcement.

Read more: Le Monde