Law expands penalties for online sex crimes against children

Brazil has enacted stricter regulations to combat sexual violence against children and adolescents, particularly in digital environments and utilizing artificial intelligence. The new law, set to take effect on Friday, Aug. 7, amends Brazil’s Statute of the Child and Adolescent and related criminal codes to impose harsher penalties on perpetrators of these offenses.

Key changes include expanded scope for investigating online sex crimes without prior judicial authorization, the introduction of undercover police officers in online investigations, and explicit addressing of artificial intelligence's role in these crimes. Penalties for using AI tools like deepfakes, filters, or other means to alter images and voices for impersonating children have been increased.

The law also broadens the definition of illegal content, including real or fictional AI-generated depictions with sexual connotations. Victims of sexual violence will receive comprehensive psychological and psychosocial care, with treatment costs reimbursed in full by the perpetrator, including services under the national health care system.

The law expands the list of heinous crimes to include acts of production, dissemination, possession, and solicitation related to sexual violence against children, and introduces preventive detention for such offenses. It also imposes stricter penalties on members of criminal organizations involved in these crimes and strengthens measures for asset and proceeds forfeiture from criminal activity.