Brazilian Congress Debates Digital Protection and Early Childhood Development

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies debates constitutional measures to protect children under six from digital risks, promoting safe technology use and development.

    Key details

  • • The Chamber of Deputies Special Committee reviews PEC 34/24 concerning early childhood digital protection.
  • • A public hearing on November 25 will discuss digital exposure risks such as early screen use and inappropriate content.
  • • Deputy Amanda Gentil stresses integrated approaches involving education, health, and digital regulation.
  • • The debate aims to ensure security online, digital literacy, and overall well-being for children aged 0-6.

The Special Committee of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies is actively reviewing the Proposed Constitutional Amendment PEC 34/24, which centers on the protection and integral development of children in early childhood, defined as from birth to six years old. A public hearing scheduled for November 25 aims to address the growing challenges posed by digital technology's presence in children's lives. Deputy Amanda Gentil (PP-MA), the proposal's rapporteur, highlighted the urgent need to tackle issues such as early screen exposure, access to inappropriate content, privacy risks, and misinformation that could affect children's well-being.

The committee seeks to develop integrated approaches that combine education, health, human rights, and digital regulation to foster online safety and digital literacy for young children. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure healthy development in Brazil's youngest citizens amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

While the state of Goiás has not been specifically linked to this legislative process, its advances in digital health—like the award-winning Electronic Patient Record system and AI-driven newborn care classification—reflect growing governmental attention to leveraging technology for public health benefits. These developments illustrate the potential tools and frameworks that could support digital protection policies for children in Brazil.

This legislative focus underscores Brazil's commitment to balancing technological access with the safeguarding of children’s rights and developmental needs, aiming to set national standards for responsible technology use during early childhood.

This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.