The violation of fundamental rights of brazilian children and adolescents on Discord: objectification of bodies and sexual abuse

Abstract

This article aims to carry out an analysis of how the social platform Discord, object of this investigation, its Terms of Service and Community Guidelines manifests as a digital environment that facilitates the production and dissemination of pornography against Brazilian children and adolescents. Several bibliographic, documentary, and normative sources were used, as well as a brief study about Discord’s functioning, and the analysis of a specific case that received notoriety throughout the media. The approach method used was deductive, because firstly is highlighted the different types of sexual violence against children and adolescents, to then have child pornography on Discord analyzed specifically. Besides, the monographic procedure method was used, as it is observed how sexual violation against these subjects of rights is established and proliferates on Discord. The investigation aims to answer the following question: to what extent does the way Discord platform operates, through its Terms of Service and its operating structures, contributes to the production and dissemination of child pornography in Brazil? Thus, it appears that the very own structure of the application and its means of communication, provided for users to interact, as well as the delegation of responsibility of Discord to third parties and the absence of legal representation in Brazil, contributes to the production and dissemination of child pornography.