Law 14.811/24 in Brazil makes bullying and cyberbullying illegal, with penalties for physical or psychological intimidation, including online, and criminalizes inducing suicide via the internet
By Leandro Bissoli, DPO, partner at Peck Advogados
Law 14.811/24, sanctioned by the President yesterday, marks a big step in the fight against bullying and cyberbullying in Brazil. The Law amended both the Penal Code and the Heinous Crimes Law and the Child and Adolescent Statute.
Now, systematically intimidating someone, whether individually or in a group, through physical or psychological violence, is an illegal act. This includes humiliation, discrimination and any form of moral, sexual, social or material abuse.
- Bullying: It is characterized by repetitive and intentional actions without evident justification – the penalty is a fine, if the conduct does not constitute a more serious crime.
- Cyberbullying: When this intimidation occurs online – whether on social networks, games, applications or any digital environment – the penalties are imprisonment for 2 to 4 years, in addition to fines, if the conduct does not constitute a more serious crime.
It will be considered as Heinous crime the conduct of inducing, instigating or assisting suicide or self-harm via the internet, social media or via live broadcasting.