The Chamber's CCJ discusses increasing the penalty for enticing minors online.

The Constitution and Justice Committee of the Chamber of Deputies included on the agenda this Wednesday the 13th the bill that expands the punishments for the crime of enticing children and adolescents committed through internet communication applications.

The proposal, authored by former deputy Shéridan (PSDB-RR), amends the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) to establish a one-third increase in the penalty when the offense occurs on digital platforms, such as social networks and instant messaging services .

Currently, the penalty for this type of crime ranges from three to six years in prison, plus a fine. With the change, the minimum sentence would increase to four years, and the maximum to eight, while maintaining the fine . The text seeks to discourage the use of the internet as a means of facilitating criminals' contact with their victims.

Situations in which the perpetrator facilitates or induces children's access to pornographic content for the purpose of engaging in lewd acts, or induces the victim to display themselves in a sexually explicit manner , will now be subject to the same penalty.

For the author, technological advancement has brought benefits, but it has also created opportunities for criminal practices that previously depended on physical contact. "Communication apps offer anonymity and speed, which can facilitate the actions of recruiters. We need laws that reflect this reality and protect our children," Shéridan argued in the justification accompanying the text.

The proposal's inclusion on the CCJ's agenda comes at a time of intense debate in Congress about cybercrimes against minors. Speaker of the House Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB) has already expressed his intention to include issues in this area on the plenary's agenda.

If the CCJ approves the bill, it will proceed to a vote in the full Chamber of Deputies. If approved without changes, it will be submitted for review to the Senate. The discussion is expected to mobilize lawmakers from different parties, given the issue's social appeal and societal pressure for tougher measures against child sexual exploitation in the virtual environment.