Brazil raises the age for using social media and AI in 2026.
Brazil will raise the minimum age for using social media and artificial intelligence (AI) applications starting in 2026. The new regulation, which comes into effect on March 17, 2026, recommends that messaging apps be used from the age of 12 and social media from the age of 16. The recommendation for AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, has been reduced to 13 years, following a warning from the Ministry of Justice about the impact of the restriction on educational use. This change is part of the ECA Digital, a law sanctioned in September that obliges digital platforms to implement extra layers of security for children and adolescents, including age verification of users to prevent inappropriate interactions.
CAR is launched as Brazil's first Digital Public Asset at COP30.
At COP30, the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) launched the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) as the first Brazilian Digital Public Good. The CAR was internationally recognized by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) as the Rural Environmental Registry (RER), highlighting Brazil as a benchmark in public technology for sustainability. The system combines transparency, traceability, and sustainability, and could serve as a model for other countries to adopt open digital solutions that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Minister Esther Dweck emphasized the importance of uniting technological innovation, sustainability, and social justice to effectively address the climate crisis.
Impacts and perspectives
- Raising the age limit for using social media and AI aims to protect children and adolescents, aligning with the new Brazilian digital legal framework.
- The digital CAR reinforces Brazil's leading role on the international stage, with the potential to expand global cooperation in environmental technology.
- These initiatives indicate a growing trend toward regulation and technological innovation focused on safety, sustainability, and social inclusion.
Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
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