Six Teenagers Detained in Brazil in Online Blackmail Investigation
- Operation Lívia investigates groups accused of targeting vulnerable minors.
- Brazilian police detained six teenagers on September 15, 2026, in an investigation into online groups accused of blackmailing children and pressuring them to harm themselves.
- The investigation, known as Operation Lívia, followed the death of Lívia, a 13-year-old girl, on July 22.
Operation Lívia investigates groups accused of targeting vulnerable minors. Discord disputes reports that a girl’s death was livestreamed on its platform.
Brazilian police detained six teenagers on September 15, 2026, in an investigation into online groups accused of blackmailing children and pressuring them to harm themselves.
The investigation, known as Operation Lívia, followed the death of Lívia, a 13-year-old girl, on July 22. Police allege that she was subjected to online manipulation and coercion.
According to Folha de S.Paulo, the latest operation covered Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and the Federal District. Authorities carried out six residential search warrants and six court-ordered measures involving teenagers.
Mato Grosso do Sul’s Civil Police led the operation with support from other police departments and Ciberlab, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice’s Cyber Operations Laboratory.
Police Investigate Alleged False Friendship
Investigators believe a 14-year-old girl pretended to be Lívia’s close friend online to gain her trust. The alleged aim was to collect personal information that the group could use against her, according to UOL’s reporting.
Police said analysis of phones, computers and other devices seized during an earlier phase of the operation helped identify additional suspects. Investigators describe the alleged use of threats, humiliation and blackmail to control victims as “digital slavery.”
UOL reported that investigators were pursuing alleged juvenile offences equivalent to homicide and participation in a criminal organization. These remain allegations, not findings of guilt.
Discord Disputes Livestream Reports
Brazilian reports have linked the investigation to groups on Discord. The company, however, disputes claims that Lívia’s death was livestreamed on its service.
In a statement published by UOL, Discord said it had removed a private server associated with suspected criminal activity before the girl’s death. It also said authorities had shared evidence indicating that the death occurred on another platform.
In a separate public statement on August 17, Discord described the case as involving coordinated harm across several platforms and said it was cooperating with law enforcement.
Brazil Restricted Discord’s Video Features
The case also prompted scrutiny from Brazil’s data protection regulator, ANPD. On August 12, the agency ordered Discord to suspend livestreaming and similar video-sharing features over concerns about children’s safety.
The regulator’s announcement said those features could return only after the company demonstrated effective safeguards and received approval. It also outlined possible fines of up to R$50 million per infringement—a potential penalty, not an announced fine.
Discord announced on August 17 that screensharing and video calls were becoming unavailable to Brazilian users to comply with the order. Text messages, servers and audio calls remained available; the platform was not shut down entirely.
Police are continuing to look for other possible victims as the investigation proceeds, according to Folha.
