Prosecutors probe risks in Fatal Fans sponsorship of Corinthians | OneFootball

The São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office has decided to investigate the commercial partnership between Corinthians and Fatal Fans. The goal is to determine whether the exposure of the sponsoring platform may pose any kind of threat to the rights of children and adolescents. The information was first reported by UOL Esporte.

The investigation is under the responsibility of prosecutor Santiago Miguel Nakano Perez, from the Capital’s Childhood and Youth Prosecutor’s Office. The document that initiated the procedure was signed last Wednesday and lists Corinthians and FF Tecnologia Ltda., the company responsible for Fatal Fans, as the parties under investigation.

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Among the first measures ordered by the Prosecutor’s Office is a technical assessment of the platform. The analysis was classified as urgent and a priority and will focus on understanding how the service works, as well as identifying which mechanisms are used to restrict access by minors.

Professionals from the Center for Support to Enforcement (Caex) are expected to access the restricted area of Fatal Fans, preserve the data found, and produce a technical report. The investigation will also include Corinthians’ digital channels, such as the official website and main social media accounts, to verify how the platform’s brand is presented to the public.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office also intends to involve the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) in the case. The agency will be consulted to inform whether Fatal Fans or the company responsible for the service has already been subject to inspections, audits, or proceedings related to the processing of personal data.

At this initial stage, the Prosecutor’s Office’s intention is to gather as much information as possible to assess any potential risks involving minors and determine whether the protective tools used by the company and by Corinthians meet the necessary requirements.

One of the main focuses of the investigation will be the method used to verify the age of the platform’s users. According to information contained in the document, the data gathered so far indicate that access would depend only on the user’s own declaration that they are over 18 years old.

The Prosecutor’s Office understands that, so far, there is no proof of the existence of an independent and reliable mechanism to confirm the age of those accessing Fatal Fans. For this reason, the company will have to detail which procedures it adopts to prevent children and adolescents from accessing the content made available.

It will also be necessary to provide information related to the platform’s security. Among the requested documents are risk assessments, security studies, and measures implemented to protect children and teenagers. The Public Prosecutor’s Office also requested the full contract signed with Corinthians, including attachments, any amendments, media planning, campaign schedule, and clauses related to the protection of minors.

Fatal Fans had already previously been contacted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but did not provide a response within the established period. With the opening of the procedure, the company will have 15 calendar days, counted from the official notification, to submit the requested clarifications and documents.

Corinthians, in turn, requested access to the contents of the investigation and asked for an extension of the deadline to present its position. According to the documentation, the request was accepted. After the files are made available, the club will have another ten days to present its position and provide the requested information.

Concern about the possibility of minors coming into contact with Fatal Fans did not arise only after the investigation was opened. Even before the agreement was signed, Corinthians itself internally discussed the possible impacts of the partnership. The club assessed legal, institutional, and image-related issues connected to the contract, especially because of the platform’s association with adult content.

As a way to limit possible problems, some conditions were included in the agreement. Among them, it was established that Fatal Fans could not be promoted in the youth categories, while Corinthians players also could not be directly linked to the platform. The club also retained the prerogative to review and control the advertising materials.

These clauses are part of the documentation considered by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office, however, intends to find out whether the safeguards provided for in the contract are really sufficient and, above all, whether they are being respected in practice.

The agreement between the parties was officially announced on June 28. Under the contract, Corinthians will receive R$ 22 million through December 2027. If the partnership is extended, the total amount could reach R$ 31 million. Currently, the Fatal Fans brand appears linked to different club sports, including men’s football, basketball, and futsal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.