Brazil Implements New Age Verification Law for Minors

The Federal government of Brazil began implementing a new law on March 17, 2026, designed to restrict minors' access to social media and the internet. The legislation follows a scandal involving the alleged sexual exploitation of minors on Instagram and requires adolescents up to 16 years old to link their accounts to a legal guardian.

Under the new rules, digital platforms must employ reliable age verification methods, including identity document uploads and biometric photo verification. The law explicitly bans the use of self-declaration for age verification. Additionally, the regulations prohibit loot boxes in video games and advertising specifically aimed at children.

Companies that fail to comply face significant penalties, including fines of up to 50 million reais, account suspensions, or total bans. The National Data Protection Authority has entered a transition period to finalize the technical implementation of these requirements. Iage Miola, the agency's director, indicated that the ban on self-declaration was necessary because that specific method is ineffective.