Children's access to electronic media increases risk of been attacked by a predator, say specialists

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Published Thursday, April 25, 2019

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Ten years ago, people aged 10 years and older were victims. Today, they are down to 6 years old or less. / A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo

Children's access to electronic media increases risk
of been attacked by a predator, say specialists

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The case of "Marco" has been added to a statistic that is increasing. The person who contacted him electronically and then abused him when he was 17 years old, was sentenced to twenty years in prison for the crime of seduction of or encounter with a minor by electronic means.

The facts reported by "Marco" occurred between February and March 2015. The Court handed down a 20-year prison sentence against the defendant surnamed Gómez, for the crimes committed against "Marco" and another minor.

In the criminal case it was established that the man, who built a false profile on a social network, contacted the minor, posing as a promoter of models and professional photographer, in search of "young talent."

During the communications, the predator offered to do a private photography session, but asked “Marco” to send photos of his body with sexual content. This allowed him to expand communications through a messaging system.

It was found that the man made “Marco” believe that it was a purely work relationship and offered a high amount of money if the child agreed to perform a series of acts, initially modeling, but finally end in a sexual relationship, under the promise of an economic advantage that was never paid.

Judicial authorities point out the importance of ensuring greater protection for minors in the face of a growing criminal phenomenon.

"... young minors deserve additional protection from adults and, in general, from all persons who come into contact with them, in order to prevent them from becoming objects of sexual satisfaction and oblige the State to intervene in cases such as the one that originated this sentence,” was the judgment of the Court of Judgment of Heredia.

For Erick Lewis Hernández, fead of the Computer Crimes Unit of the Judicial Investigation Agency, the phenomenon extends not only to the crimes of encounters, but also production and dissemination of child pornography.

"Ten years ago, people aged 10 years and older were victims. Today, they are down to 6 years old or less. This is because technology, social networks, and messaging systems have made those who use them depersonalized, without knowing who is behind a monitor or message and it begins to generate an area of trust," said Lewis.

There is a risk that exists in sending personal photos and videos to friends and, more importantly, to strangers; risks that are also found in systems such as online video games which facilitates communication with strangers.

"The main thing in this type of dangerous situation is education. Develop a computer culture,” said specialist Lewis. "People want to use systems, electronic devices, social networks, messaging systems, but they do not report their risks when publishing personal information or sending files and all this allows the offender to create a profile of his victim."

The use of social networks where adults can contact minors and promote physical encounters is a phenomenon that began to be visualized in judicial statistics in 2013 when a criminal complaint was recorded for the crime of seduction of or encounter with minors by electronic means.

According to the statistics of the Public Ministry, a number is increasing. In 2014, the cases rose to 57 and by 2015 ten more were registered, for a total of 67 legal proceedings.

From there, the following years registered an average increase of 68 percent of reported court cases.

In 2016, the figure reached 96 cases and in the first semester of 2017, there were 141 prosecutions for this type of crime.

In 2017, four men received a conviction for the crime of seduction of or encounter with minors by electronic means. The age of the accused ranged between 35 and 44 years of age.

Dr. Álvaro Burgos Mata, professor of the faculty of law of the University of Costa Rica and criminal judge, stated that "at a general level, sexual crimes are the ones with the most black figure, because the statistics sometimes do not reflect the reality, in front of victims who do not report for various reasons such as ignorance of the criminal process." Dr. Álvaro Burgos considers that cybercrime increases vulnerability to the detriment of minors.

"The phenomenon is growing and there are more electronic and cybercriminal procedures that are presented," said Dr. Burgos.

"... the crime of seduction or encounters with minors by electronic means is related to sexual freedom and the healthy development of their sexuality. Each and every one of these legal assets has been strongly injured with the criminal activity deployed to the detriment of its victims, which demonstrates a fully verified material illegality," was the sentence handed down by the judge of the Criminal Court of Heredia.

Given the increased risk of children being contacted in social networks or other types of applications, specialists recommend:

- Do not believe that everything that appears on the internet is true.

- Verify the authenticity of unknown profiles that try to connect.

- Do not attend appointments with people if you don’t know them

- Do not send photographs or intimate videos, because you lose control of the material.

- Understand how to use computer tools.

- Know the risks when using social networks, messaging systems, and similar systems.

- Do not publish aspects of private life in public networks.

--------------
What other recommendation would you give a child or a child’s parents so that the child can avoid being contacted on social networks by a sexual predator? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com

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