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Brazil
What the Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente and the Criminal Code say about possession, distribution and intimate images.
Updated as of · National legislation
What this guide covers
Offences involving material depicting sexual violence against children and adolescents are regulated by the Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (ECA). Article 241-E includes certain real or fictional depictions, including digital or AI-generated material, depending on their sexual content and context. ECA, art. 241-E
Sexual material involving children and teenagers
These are the main statutory penalties for the conduct described. The circumstances of a case can affect how they apply.
| Conduct | Main statutory penalty |
|---|---|
| Acquiring, possessing, storing or requesting Photographs, videos or other recordings containing sexual violence against children or adolescents. | 3 to 6 years of imprisonment and a fineECA, art. 241-B |
| Offering, transmitting, distributing or disseminating Also covers exchanging, making available or publishing the material. | 4 to 10 years of imprisonment and a fineECA, art. 241-A |
| Producing or recording Includes reproducing, directing, photographing or filming the content described in Article 240. | 4 to 10 years of imprisonment and a fineECA, art. 240 |
| Simulating participation through altered images Article 241-C covers edits or alterations of images or voices, including the use of artificial intelligence. | 3 to 5 years of imprisonment and a fineECA, art. 241-C |
These provisions incorporate Law 15,487 of 2026, effective from its publication on 7 August 2026. Law 15,487/2026, Arts. 2 and 7
Article 241-B, § 4, also penalizes accessing or viewing this material for one’s own or another person’s sexual gratification. Section 1 provides a reduction of one sixth to one third for a small quantity; §§ 2 and 3 set out reporting exceptions for specific authorized actors, not for anyone who saves files. ECA, art. 241-B
Intimate images shared without permission
Article 218-C of the Criminal Code covers, among other conduct, sharing scenes of sex, nudity or pornography without the victim’s consent. The current penalty was amended by Law 15,280 of 2025. Criminal Code, Art. 218-C
| Conduct | Main statutory penalty |
|---|---|
| Offering, transmitting, selling or disseminating without consent Also includes exchanging, making available, distributing or publishing. This range applies if the act does not constitute a more serious offense. | 4 to 10 years of imprisonment and a fineCriminal Code, Art. 218-C |
The sentence increases by one third to two thirds where the offender has or had an intimate relationship with the victim, or acts to take revenge or humiliate them. Section 2 contains specific exceptions for journalistic, scientific, cultural or academic publications that meet its conditions. Criminal Code, Art. 218-C
Where to report or seek guidance
Disque 100 receives reports of human rights violations, including those affecting children and adolescents. The official service offers guidance and reporting channels. Within Brazil, calls to 100 are free and the service operates 24 hours a day, every day.
Read the official sources
General information about the cited laws, not legal advice on a particular case. This is not an exhaustive list of offenses, exceptions or additional penalties. The date of the conduct, the ages of those involved and other circumstances can change the legal position. Seek local legal advice.