Challenges in digital age verification mechanisms: The Brazilian context

In today's hyperconnected world, access to the digital environment has become an integral part of everyday life, including for children and teenagers. Social networks, entertainment platforms, games and educational, health and mobility services are central to how young people learn, communicate and interact. 

However, their growing digital presence has raised increasing privacy, safety and data protection concerns. Early and prolonged exposure to online content can bring serious risks, including contact with inappropriate material, pornography, cyberbullying, manipulation and abusive or misleading advertising.

To address these challenges, data protection authorities worldwide have intensified discussions on regulating the participation of minors in digital spaces. In Brazil, this debate was strengthened by the enactment of Federal Law No. 15.211/2025, known as the Digital Statute of the Child and Adolescent, which establishes comprehensive rules for protecting young people online, requiring providers of digital products and services intended for or accessible to children and teenagers to implement age-appropriate safeguards. 

Brazil's data protection authority, the Agência Nacional de Proteção de Dados, focused on protecting data belonging to children and teenagers in its regulatory agenda for 2025-26. Reinforcing this agenda, the ANPD published the 5th edition of "Radar Tecnológico," dedicated entirely to age verification mechanisms, analyzing emerging technologies and international best practices that can guide Brazil in implementing safe and effective age verification solutions in the digital environment.