The European Parliament has adopted new legislative proposals to strengthen the fight against child sexual abuse in the EU, including tougher penalties and adapting the law to new technologies.
The changes aim to cover crimes involving sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including deepfakes, and ensure that these acts can be prosecuted whether they are committed online or in the real world.
Key changes include increasing maximum penalties for crimes such as sexual acts with children who are of the age of consent but do not consent to the sexual acts. MEPs also backed the abolition of statutes of limitations for these crimes, given that victims often report the abuse years after it happened.
The new legislation also criminalises the use of artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse content. Undercover investigations and surveillance methods will be allowed to make investigations more effective.
MEPs also propose a new definition of “consent” for children who are of legal age but have not yet reached the age of majority. Peer-to-peer interactions will not be criminalised unless there is a dependency or breach of trust. Penalties will be imposed if the perpetrator poses as a peer of the victim.
Lawmakers insist on free and comprehensive support for child victims, including medical care and access to sexual and reproductive health care, in line with the “Barnahus” model.
Negotiations between Parliament and the Council on the final text of the law will start on 23 June. Illustrative Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-boy-covering-his-face-with-his-hands-7929450/
