BRASILIA, Brazil, Aug. 14 (UPI) — Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature in the country until the it demonstrates that it has adopted measures to protect children and adolescents.

Discord has until Friday to voluntarily suspend livestreaming.

The National Data Protection Authority, known by its Portuguese acronym ANPD, said in a statement that it imposed the preventive measure because the company had failed to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from accessing or being exposed to content and practices that seriously violate their rights.

The agency cited risks involving “inducement, incitement, instigation or assistance with violence, self-harm and suicide.”

The order does not block Discord in Brazil. Other features remain available, including text and audio interactions in private rooms, content sharing and active community moderation, according to the agency.

The measure seeks to reduce the risk of serious or irreparable harm to children and adolescents.

The action follows the death of a 13-year-old girl in mid-July, G1 reported. Investigators said other users on the platform coerced the teenager into taking her own life during a real-time video broadcast.

An adult and five adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 were detained last week in connection with the case. They are accused of aggravated homicide and inducing the girl to harm herself during an interaction on the platform.

The case heightened concerns among Brazilian authorities over protections for minors in digital environments.

The ANPD cited what it described as systemic shortcomings in Discord’s content moderation. The agency said the platform’s technical architecture prevents real-time monitoring of livestreamed video, facilitating the creation of hidden communities involved in criminal activity.

Reports to SaferNet, a Brazilian nonprofit that tracks online crimes and rights violations, increased 54% over the past year in cases involving hate, radicalization and self-harm.

Rio de Janeiro juvenile court Judge Vanessa Cavalieri has played a central role in raising concerns about the issue, CNN Brasil reported.

Cavalieri provided testimony and assessments to a congressional commission investigating online risks to minors, describing how extremist groups and abuse networks operated anonymously on Discord. Her testimony contributed to political pressure on the government and the ANPD to take action against the platform.

Responding to complaints from the company and critics who have described the measure as censorship, Cavalieri said foreign companies operating in Brazil must comply with Brazilian law.

She has accused Discord of repeatedly failing to comply with Brazil’s Child and Adolescent Statute, criticizing the platform’s lack of age verification and its failure to provide information to authorities.

Discord could face daily fines of up to 50 million reais, about $9 million, if it fails to comply with the order.

To avoid penalties, Discord could enter into an agreement with the Brazilian government to modify its platform architecture, implement artificial intelligence systems capable of detecting criminal activity in real time and improve age verification.

The company could also challenge the measure before the ANPD, arguing that the decision was premature, or seek an injunction in Brazilian federal court to overturn the suspension.

The ANPD said the suspension will remain in effect until Discord submits a comprehensive safety plan and receives express authorization from Brazilian authorities to restore livestreaming.

Discord has more than 90 million daily active users worldwide. Brazil is the platform’s second-largest market after the United States, CNN Brasil reported.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7. In the United States, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support. Globally, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has contact information for crisis centers around the world.