Brazil Consumer Agency Demands Action After Pulitzer Center Report on Child Abuse AI Content

Leia em português.

Secretary Wadih Damous forwards a complaint to officials.

Following a Pulitzer Center-supported investigation for Núcleo, which revealed Instagram profiles featuring child sexual exploitation content generated by artificial intelligence, Brazil's National Consumer Secretariat has initiated a monitoring procedure against social media giant Meta, which owns Instagram and other platforms.

The initiation of a monitoring procedure aims to oversee and evaluate companies' practices concerning consumer rights. In a formal communication, Wadih Damous, Brazil's consumer secretary, forwarded the complaint to the Federal Police and the Digital Law Secretariat, demanding action.

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The National Consumer Secretariat, or Senacon, is a government agency linked to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Its primary role is to protect and promote consumer rights in Brazil. Senacon implements consumer protection policies, oversees compliance with consumer laws, and addresses consumer complaints and disputes.

In Brazil, child sexual abuse material is classified as a severe violation of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, even if generated by AI. The country has yet to establish a comprehensive AI regulatory framework, although a bill is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives after being approved by the Senate last year.

The investigation uncovered profiles that directed users to paid content platforms, such as Patreon and Fanvue, as well as to groups containing actual child abuse material. Meta has since removed all identified profiles and credited the report for its moderation efforts.