Analyzing Online Sexual Grooming of Minors and the Case of the Albanian Criminal Framework

Abstract

Out of all of the digital sex crimes that have emerged during the revolution that is happening to technology, sexual grooming of minors, is one of the most problematic and unaddressed criminal phenomena. Sexual grooming of minors has moved from the offline realm to the online realm, becoming a tangible concern to all of the children who surf the Internet daily. Today, pervasive internet connectivity has propelled cybercrime to the forefront of law enforcement concerns globally. Particularly, social media platforms have become the favored and easily accessible tools for perpetrators, amplifying the incidence of digital sex crimes. This situation is exacerbated by the inherent dangers of online sexual grooming, which serves as a precursor to child sexual abuse. While not always an obligatory step preceding such abuse, the distinct characteristics of online sexual grooming underscore its heightened concern and complexity. This article delves into the dynamics of the sexual grooming of children, exploring its patterns, offenders’ and victims’ typology, and relevant legal framework in juxtaposition with the analysis of the Albanian criminal framework regarding this issue. For writing this article, we have used the Desk Review approach method as well as analyzing relevant legal frameworks where necessary, among other aspects.