CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF INTIMATE CONTENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ON THE INTERNET

Abstract

The present study investigates the criminal liability for the dissemination of intimate media of children and adolescents on the internet, analyzing the legal challenges and gaps in the Brazilian legal system. The objective is to understand how virtual sexual crimes are treated in national legislation, identify the applicable penalties and examine the case law of the Superior Court of Justice on the subject. The methodology used is qualitative and explanatory, based on bibliographic review, documentary analysis and jurisprudential research. The results indicate that the unauthorized dissemination of intimate images of minors represents a serious violation of fundamental rights and a threat to children's digital safety. Although there are legal mechanisms to punish such crimes, enforcement faces challenges such as the difficulty of identifying offenders, the transnational nature of crimes, and the need for collaboration between digital platforms and authorities. The importance of updating legislation and preventive measures is emphasized. It is concluded that there is a need for regulatory improvement and expansion of educational initiatives to prevent virtual crimes against minors.