LEGAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGAINST THE RISKS OF SEXUALIZATION ON THE INTERNET

Abstract

The increasing exposure of minors on social networks, online games and content sharing  platforms has facilitated practices such as grooming, child pornography and digital sexual  exploitation. Therefore, the protection of children and adolescents in the virtual environment  has become essential, which is why the current research has proven to be extremely relevant.  The general objective of this work is to analyze the adequacy of Brazilian legal protection for  children and adolescents in the face of the risks of sexualization on the internet. To this end,  three specific objectives were addressed: to examine the criminal procedural rules applicable to  sexual crimes against children and adolescents in the digital environment; to identify the main  forms of child sexual exploitation practiced through the internet; and; and to investigate the  effectiveness of public policies for prevention and repression in relation to these crimes. The  ethodology adopted is qualitative and exploratory, based on bibliographic research and  documentary analysis of legislation, case law and reports from national and international  agencies. Brazilian legislation has provisions that aim to guarantee the protection of minors,  such as the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA) and the Civil Rights Framework for the  Internet. However, it is clear that, despite regulatory advances, there are still challenges in the  effective application of these laws, especially in view of the rapid technological evolution and  the difficulty in monitoring content disseminated on the web.