UN asks social networks to adopt cybersecurity policies

Volker Türk, head of the OHCHR (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) made a request, this Thursday (Aug. 27, 2026), so that the entire social media industry adopts cybersecurity policies that protect children. The request was published on the official page do X do ACNUDH.

“Children shouldn’t have to wait for a lawsuit to be safe online. The design changes that Meta has agreed to implement in its social media apps are in line with what my office has been advocating. But we’re not there yet. Safe design must be applied across the industry. Governments need to act instead of waiting for courts and companies to take action”afirmou Turk.

The request came after the Meta close a deal on Wednesday (Aug 26) of US$ 16.68 billion to settle lawsuits filed by 29 North American states, which accused the company of addicting children and teenagers to Facebook and Instagram, misleading consumers about security and collecting data from minors without consent.

As part of the settlement, the company committed to implementing daily screen time limits, nighttime restrictions for young people, and increased age controls, as well as committing $459.3 million to settle privacy disputes over the Cambridge Analytica scandal with 4 states and Washington, D.C.

The negotiation avoided compensation that could reach up to US$1.4 trillion. Despite having closed the deal, the company denied the allegations.

MEASURES NOT BRAZIL

In Brazil, digital platforms go through a similar process. The federal government, through Attorney General of the Union, filed a public civil action in Federal Court demanding that the platform Discord adopt a series of strict measures to protect children, adolescents and women in the digital environment.

The measure was taken after the government considered the proposals presented by the company to improve its security unsatisfactory. The trigger for the case was the death of a 13-year-old teenager in Mato Grosso do Sul, induced to commit suicide during a Discord live, recognized by the company itself as a security failure.

In addition to Discord, the ANPD (National Data Protection Agency) started monitoring from 22 other large (including Meta networks and AIs such as ChatGPT and Gemini) digital platforms, application stores and generative artificial intelligence tools to evaluate how they act in preventing criminal content and protecting vulnerable people.

Discord states that AGU’s action is “disproportionate” and highlights: “We have maintained, consistently and in good faith, a dialogue with the Attorney General’s Office and have presented a detailed proposal to strengthen security on Discord through technical changes and a financial investment in online security in Brazil.”

The process is under judicial secrecy. Discord, the ANPD (National Data Protection Agency) and AGU did not detail the proposal presented. During the announcement of the public civil action, however, the Federal Attorney General’s Office stated that the proposal was not “satisfactory in meeting all State requirements”.

Read the full note:

“AGU’s legal action is disproportionate and does not accurately reflect Discord’s approach to security and compliance with Brazilian legislation. We have consistently and in good faith maintained a dialogue with the Attorney General’s Office and have presented a detailed proposal to strengthen security on Discord through technical changes and a financial investment in online security in Brazil. We believe there is a better path and remain committed to working with the competent authorities to reach a solution that increases security on the platform and, at the same time, allow Brazilians to continue using Discord”.