PAN senators propose penalties of up to 18 years for child grooming

Grooming, defined as online harassment and sexual abuse of minors, has become an alarming problem in Mexico and around the world. Social media, messaging platforms, and online video games have made it easier for predators to attempt to emotionally and sexually manipulate children and adolescents, taking advantage of their vulnerability and lack of experience in digital environments.

Senators from the National Action Party (PAN) introduced a proposed penal reform to classify grooming as a specific crime within the Federal Penal Code. The initiative proposes prison sentences of six to twelve years for those who, through digital means, seek to obtain sexual content from minors or arrange encounters for sexual purposes, even if the act is not consummated.

The proposal includes increasing the penalty by up to half—that is, up to 18 years in prison—if the perpetrator uses fake profiles or simulated identities to deceive the victim. The reform focuses on closing legal loopholes that currently allow this type of behavior to go unpunished, ensuring that those who attempt to manipulate minors in digital environments face severe consequences.

According to the initiative, grooming occurs when a person establishes digital contact with minors under 18 years of age or with individuals incapable of understanding the situation, with the intention of obtaining or disseminating images, audio, or videos with sexual content, engaging in virtual sexual acts, or arranging physical encounters for sexual purposes. Whether the act is ultimately carried out is irrelevant, as the law seeks to punish the intent and attempt at sexual manipulation.

The reform includes a requirement for federal, state, and municipal authorities to implement grooming prevention, awareness, and detection programs tailored to specific cultural and linguistic contexts. These efforts will focus on schools, families, and communities to create safe environments and reduce children's exposure to online sexual harassment.

The PAN senators argued that current legislation lacks clear penalties for grooming, leaving minors unprotected. This initiative seeks to guarantee the physical and emotional well-being of children and adolescents by promoting a culture of prevention and digital vigilance to stop sexual manipulation in technological environments.