Digital ECA and the structural protection of children in the Brazilian digital environment

Abstract

The advancement of digital platforms has imposed systemic risks on children and adolescents that the previous Brazilian normative framework proved unable to address, given its predominantly reactive character. This article investigates the extent to which the Digital Child and Adolescent Statute (Law No. 15.211/2025) is capable of reconfiguring the responsibilities of digital platforms and strengthening the justice ecosystem in guaranteeing the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents in the Brazilian cyberspace. The working hypothesis is that the transition toward a structural prevention paradigm represents a significant normative advancement, yet its effectiveness depends on the coordinated articulation among the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), the Judiciary, and digital literacy initiatives. The article aims to analyze this transition from the reactive model to the structural prevention introduced by the LGPD and the Digital ECA, examining concepts such as Safety by Design, the "likely to be accessed" criterion, and robust age verification. The methodology consists of qualitative research based on bibliographic and documentary review, using the deductive method. It is concluded that comprehensive protection in cyberspace requires an integrated effort from the justice ecosystem, exemplified by the digital transformation of the Court of Justice of Amazonas (TJAM) and the use of Legal Design to democratize access to fundamental rights.