Discord has suspended its live video streaming features in Brazil following a decision by the National Data Protection Agency. This measure comes as part of the investigation into the death of a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly encouraged to self-harm and then take her own life during a live stream on the platform.
Brazilian authorities had given Discord until Monday, August 17, to suspend its service. The suspension will remain in effect until the company demonstrates the implementation of technical, security, and organizational measures appropriate to the identified risks. Text and audio messaging remain accessible to Brazilian users.
Six people arrested after the tragedy
Police say the teenager, who lived in central-western Brazil, was allegedly subjected to harassment from other users for about 45 minutes. Five teenagers and one adult were arrested in early August as part of the investigation. Their precise role will be determined by the courts.
Discord maintains that it rejects any form of incitement to violence and asserts that its alert systems interrupted the broadcast before the girl's death. Brazilian authorities, however, criticize the platform for relying on automated moderation systems deemed flawed. The company states that it is continuing discussions with authorities to strengthen its protection mechanisms and potentially restore video functionality in the country at a later date.
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