Introduction
Grooming, a crime where an adult contacts a minor online to manipulate them for sexual purposes, is becoming an increasingly concerning issue in Latin America. According to the Grooming LATAM 2024-2025 report, seven out of ten children, adolescents, and teenagers are unaware of this term, highlighting a worrying gap in information and prevention.
Who is Grooming LATAM?
Grooming LATAM is a non-governmental organization dedicated to raising awareness and combating online grooming in Latin America. Their annual reports provide valuable insights into the prevalence and trends of this issue.
The Extent of the Problem
- More than 20,000 cases of online child sexual abuse and exploitation were documented in Mexico in 2024, according to the Guardia Nacional and Te Protejo México.
- 60% of minors under 17 have interacted with strangers online.
- 66% of minors have received marriage proposals while using digital platforms.
- 62% of minors have their own phones by the age of nine, and 25% before that age.
These statistics are alarming, as they indicate that online predators are exploiting the digital infrastructure to target children. Hernán Navarro, founder of Grooming LATAM, warns that these networks of pedophiles take advantage of online anonymity.
Rising Concerns and Lack of Legislation
During the presentation of the report in the Senate of the Republic, activists, legislators, and technology company representatives called for inter-institutional coordination to address this crime and demanded an update to the legal frameworks.
Senator Laura Esquivel Torres highlighted that Mexico ranks among the top countries in Latin America for reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation, with over 20,000 documented cases in 2024. She emphasized that this form of violence uses emotional manipulation and digital infrastructure to infiltrate the privacy of children.
The report also revealed that 66% of minors have received marriage proposals while using digital platforms, and 62% have their own phones by the age of nine. These statistics demonstrate how online predators exploit digital anonymity to target children.
Data from Deputy Elizabeth Martínez Álvarez shows that online sexual crimes against minors have increased by over 35% between 2019 and 2023. However, many victims do not report these crimes due to fear or lack of knowledge.
Deputy Liliana Ortiz Pérez expressed concern that, out of 46 federal initiatives related to cyberbullying and child sexual abuse, only one has been approved in almost five years.
Progress in Querétaro
While federal discussions on child cybersecurity stall, the Querétaro Congress has approved a project of the dictamen, known as the “Kuri Law,” which is an integral reform to the state’s Penal Code and the Children’s Rights Law.
- The new law prohibits minors under 14 from accessing social networks and requires parental authorization for adolescents aged 14 to 17.
- It criminalizes grooming with penalties of 3 to 6 years in prison and digital identity simulation for sexual purposes.
- Digital platforms will be held accountable if they fail to comply with age verification and security filters.
Diputado Guillermo Vega Guerrero, president of the Administration and Justice Commission of the local Congress, stated that they cannot allow abusers to use technology as a tool for abuse. He emphasized that this law is an initial step towards ensuring safe digital environments.
Diputado Enrique Correa Sada called on the federal Congress to advance similar legislation, while Diputada Leonor Mejía Barraza supported this regulation as part of a broader vision for child protection, which includes initiatives against the misuse of artificial intelligence and promoting “positive parenting.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is grooming? Grooming is a crime where an adult contacts a minor online to manipulate them for sexual purposes.
- Why is grooming a concern in Latin America? Seven out of ten children, adolescents, and teenagers are unaware of this term, indicating a significant information gap.
- How prevalent is online child sexual abuse and exploitation in Mexico? More than 20,000 cases were documented in 2024.
- What measures are being taken to address grooming? NGOs like Grooming LATAM raise awareness, and the Querétaro Congress has approved a law to prevent grooming.
- What is the “Kuri Law”? The “Kuri Law” is an integral reform to the state’s Penal Code and Children’s Rights Law in Querétaro, which criminalizes grooming and holds digital platforms accountable for failing to implement age verification and security filters.
