Brazilian Senate Approves Stricter Penalties for Digital Sexual Violence Against Minors
The Brazilian Senate has passed a law increasing penalties and protections against digital sexual violence targeting minors, addressing crimes involving AI and enhancing victim support.
- • Brazilian Senate approved bill PL 3.066/2025 increasing penalties for digital sexual violence against minors.
- • Penalties for producing and distributing abusive content rise to 4-10 years imprisonment; possession penalties also increased.
- • Law covers crimes using AI and deepfake technology, categorizing some offenses as heinous.
- • Bill mandates psychological support for victims and imposes financial accountability on offenders.
- • Establishment of a virtual patrol aims to improve detection and evidence collection in digital crimes.
Key details
On July 7, 2026, the Brazilian Senate approved a significant bill enhancing penalties for digital sexual violence against children and adolescents. Sponsored by Deputy Osmar Terra, the legislation, identified as PL 3.066/2025, seeks to strengthen legal measures targeting crimes involving the production, distribution, and possession of sexual content involving minors, especially in digital environments utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technologies.
The bill notably redefines the offense formerly known as "child pornography" to the broader term "sexual violence against children or adolescents," emphasizing the grave nature of such crimes. It substantially increases prison sentences; for example, penalties for producing or distributing such content rise from 4 to 10 years, while possession sentences increase from 1-4 years to 3-6 years. Furthermore, solicitation and grooming of minors through technological means also see heightened sanctions. Several offenses are classified as heinous crimes, enabling stricter judicial treatment.
The legislation responds to a troubling rise in child sexual abuse reports in Brazil—Senator Fabiano Contarato cited a nearly 19% increase in anonymous reports during the first half of 2025, totaling 49,336 cases. To enhance enforcement, the law establishes a “virtual patrol” mechanism to empower official bodies in detecting and gathering evidence of digital sexual violence.
Victim support provisions are integral to the bill, mandating psychological care and imposing financial accountability on offenders to cover victims’ treatment costs. Senator Damares Alves lauded the law as a “significant advance” in protecting Brazilian children.
This legislative development marks a critical effort by Brazil’s government to address the evolving dangers posed by digital technologies and AI in crimes against minors, emphasizing punitive measures alongside victim support.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
