One month after President Lula's ECA Digital decrees took effect in late March 2026, major platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, Discord, and Roblox have adapted by disabling lootboxes in games and enhancing parental controls. The ANPD will regulate age verification for age-restricted content like alcohol, tobacco, and pornography throughout 2026.
Following the signing of decrees regulating the Digital Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA Digital) by President Lula on March 17, 2026—as covered in this series—the law marked one month in effect around late March, prompting swift market responses. Most games have disabled 'lootboxes' as mandated, while services announced upgraded parental supervision tools.
A key focus is mandatory age verification for minors-restricted products. The ANPD plans gradual rollout in 2026, emphasizing verifiable credentials via zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP). This 'double-blind' method confirms users are 18+ without revealing personal data, avoiding logging by verifiers or excess collection by platforms. It contrasts with insecure practices like app-submitted document photos, which feed illegal data markets and scams.
Global momentum supports this: the European Commission's digital wallet for age checks, plus initiatives in the US, France, Germany, India, and Japan. In Brazil, the ECA Digital fosters interoperable public-private solutions prioritizing data minimization and privacy, balancing child protection with adult security and convenience.
