Operation Livia dismantles network inducing teen suicide

On August 4, 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security presented the results of Operation Livia, an action led by the Civil Police of Mato Grosso do Sul with technical support from the Ciberlab of Senasp/MJSP. The operation investigated a criminal organization that attracted children and adolescents to virtual environments, subjecting them to psychological coercion and encouraging extreme violence against animals, self-harm challenges, and suicide induction.

Operation Livia and its aftermath

The investigation began after the live suicide of a 13-year-old teenager on July 22. The broadcast took place in a Discord group and lasted about 45 minutes. The operation executed eight search and seizure warrants in Mato Grosso do Sul and in four other states – Ceará, Minas Gerais, Pará, and Rio de Janeiro – with the collaboration of the respective civil police forces.

Case of the teenager Livia

Before taking her own life at her family home in Naviraí, the girl was coerced in the virtual environment to torture and kill a cat, an act that did not materialize. The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Wellington César Lima e Silva, emphasized the need for prevention and active vigilance by parents and society, stating: “Double your attention in caring for your children, for kids, for teenagers, when they encounter this content, given the serious events reported here.”

Arrests and profiles of the accused

Among those detained are five adolescents aged between 13 and 17 and an 18-year-old man, all simultaneous users of the Telegram messaging service. The alleged group leader is a 14-year-old teenager, seized in Rio de Janeiro. Another identified suspect is a seminarian student from a monastery in Pernambuco.

Misuse of Pix and encouragement of self-harm

Investigations revealed that the criminals opened a Pix key in the victim’s name without the mother’s knowledge, sending funds to purchase Gillette blades intended for self-harm. Detective Alessandro Barreto stated: “The criminals themselves created a Pix key for the girl, sent money to buy Gillette, for self-harm and everything.”

Failures of digital platforms

Victor Fernandes, national secretary of Digital Rights, pointed out non-compliance with the standards set by the Digital Child Statute (ECA Digital), the Civil Internet Framework, and the Decree for Protection of Women in the Digital Environment. According to him, Discord did not halt the live broadcast, did not remove the content immediately, and did not notify authorities. He also highlighted the lack of age verification required by the Digital Child Statute, stating: “All these scenes of self-harm, induction, and, in the end, in this most shocking case, the suicide of a 13-year-old girl, occurred in groups during live streams on Discord, made entirely by children and teenagers. Everyone could access the platform without any age verification to enter those environments where these streams took place.”

Future investigations and ministry measures

All collected material will be analyzed to identify other participants and clarify the circumstances of the organization’s online activity. The Ministry of Justice will submit a request for investigation against Discord and Telegram to the National Data Protection Agency, responsible for enforcing the Digital Child Statute in Brazil. Detective Barreto also reported that police identified another victim in another federation unit and prevented her from taking her own life in a pre-scheduled broadcast, adding: “We are seeing the names of other possible victims to notify parents and guardians so they stay alert.”

With information from Agência Brasil.