View source for Sexual grooming

{{Short description|Child sexual abuse compliance method}}
{{Sex and the Law}}
'''Sexual grooming''' is the action or behavior used to establish an emotional connection with a vulnerable person – generally a [[Minor (law)|minor]] under the [[age of consent]]<ref name="Sanderson2">{{cite book |author=Christiane Sanderson|title=Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=1843103354 |year=2006|page=32|quote=Counsellors may need to remind survivors that children are not able to give informed consent under the legal age and in the absence of full knowledge of the meaning and ramifications of such behaviour.|access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hpq-SvwKtkUC&pg=PA32}}</ref><ref name="Ost2">{{Cite book|title=Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming : Legal and Societal Responses|url=https://archive.org/details/childpornography00osts|url-access=limited|last=Ost|first=Suzanne|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780521885829|location=Cambridge, United Kingdom|pages=71|quote=The offence relating to grooming can be founder under a.15(1) of the [[Sexual Offences Act 2003|SOA]], which provides that an individual aged eighteen or ever (A) commits the offence of "meeting a child following sexual grooming etc" if: [...] (3) B is under 16; and (4) A does not reasonably believe that B is 16 or over}}</ref> – and sometimes the victim's family,<ref name="Sanderson"/> to lower their inhibitions with the objective of [[child sexual abuse|sexual abuse]].<ref name="Ost">{{Cite book|title=Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming : Legal and Societal Responses|url=https://archive.org/details/childpornography00osts|url-access=limited|last=Ost|first=Suzanne|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780521885829|location=Cambridge, United Kingdom|pages=[https://archive.org/details/childpornography00osts/page/n47 33]|quote=According to Finkelhor's model, there are four preconditions to child sexual abuse. The first is a motivation to sexually abuse a child,}}</ref><ref name="INHOPE"/> It can occur in various settings, including online, in person, and through other means of communication.<ref name="RAINN">{{Cite web |title=Grooming: Know the Warning Signs {{!}} RAINN| url=https://www.rainn.org/news/grooming-know-warning-signs |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=www.rainn.org}}</ref> Children who are groomed may experience mental health issues, including "[[anxiety]], [[Depression (mood)|depression]], [[post-traumatic stress]], and [[suicidal thoughts]]".<ref name="INHOPE">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=The impact of online grooming |url=https://www.inhope.org/EN/articles/the-impact-of-online-grooming |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=INHOPE}}</ref>

==History and recognition==
===Origins===
Before the term "grooming" was associated with grooming a child for sexual abuse, it had come to have a meaning of mentorship, coaching, or preparing someone for leadership.<ref name="Mohr2022">{{cite journal |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/In-a-Word/2022/0530/Sorting-out-the-changing-meaning-of-grooming |title="Sorting out the changing meaning of 'grooming'" |date=May 30, 2022 |last=Mohr |first=Melissa|journal=Christian Science Monitor }}</ref><ref name="BBC2008">{{cite magazine| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7758292.stm| title=When did 'grooming' become a dirty word?| date=December 1, 2008| magazine=BBC News Magazine}}</ref>

From 1975 to 1985, law enforcement in the United States became increasingly aware of child sexual abuse that happened to children from outside their family, committed by those who were not strangers.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> Previously, the focus of law enforcement had been on "stranger danger" and those who used threats of violence to ensure compliance from their victims.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> In these newly recognized sexual abuse cases, children were manipulated with a "combination of attention, affection, kindness, gifts, alcohol, drugs, money, and privileges".<ref name="Lanning2018" /> While there are examples before this time where the pattern was recognized, it was during this decade that the FBI became aware of the pattern and criminal investigations were first taken seriously in the United States.<ref name="Lanning2018">{{cite journal |last=Lanning |first=Kenneth |title=The Evolution of Grooming; Concept and Term |url=https://calio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/the-evolution-of-grooming-concept-and-term.pdf |journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence |date=2018 |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=17–23| doi=10.1177/0886260517742046|access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref> There was also growing awareness that offenders joined youth-serving organizations to gain access to potential victims.<ref name="Lanning2018" />

As an example, a 1977 study used the terminology "pressured sexual contacts" and "forced sex contacts" to distinguish two types of offenders.<ref name="WolbertBurgess2018" /> Sex-pressure offenses had a lack of physical force and behavior that was counter-aggressive, using "persuasion of reward, attention, affection, money, gifts, or entrapment".<ref name="WolbertBurgess2018" /> "Sex-force offenses" used the threat of harm or physical force, such as "intimidation, verbal threat, restraint, manipulation, and physical strength".<ref name="WolbertBurgess2018">{{cite journal |doi-access=free |title=On the Origin of Grooming |last1=Wolbert Burgess |first1=Ann |last2=Hartman |first2=Carol | journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence |date=2018 |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=5–16 | doi=10.1177/0886260517742048 }}</ref>

Ken Lanning is credited with being one of the first professionals using the term "grooming".<ref name="WolbertBurgess2018" /> He recalls it being used in conversations between law enforcement professionals, and pinpoints the first known written description of the process of child grooming to a 1979 book written by Nicholas Groth, and the first printed use of the word grooming to a 1984 article by Jon Conte.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> At the beginning of its use, both grooming and seduction were being used to describe this type of non-violent offender, and Lanning recalls using both terms interchangeably.<ref name="Lanning2018" />

A January 1984 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin used "seduction" and being "seduced" to describe the activity of non-violent offenders.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> By 1985, the Chicago Tribune had used the term, reporting "These 'friendly molesters' become acquainted with their targeted victim, gaining their trust while secretly grooming the child as a sexual partner."<ref name="BBC2008" />
 
In the 1980s, the public in the United States became increasingly aware of child sexual abuse through the [[Day-care sex-abuse hysteria|nursery school cases]] and [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases|abuse in religious settings]].<ref name="WolbertBurgess2018" />

===Changing meaning===

During the 1990s, the term grooming was increasingly used to replace "seduction" as the most commonly used term.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> However, there was not "one official, legal, mental health, or even lay definition" of grooming.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> Growing awareness of chat rooms being used by pedophiles to target victims came to public notice, and the use of "grooming" to mean "to win the confidence of (a victim) in order to a commit sexual assault on him or her" became mainstream.<ref name="BBC2008"/> In academia, the description of grooming strategies in online cases became distinct from the descriptions of pre-Internet grooming strategies.<ref name="Ringenberg2022">{{cite journal| title=A scoping review of child grooming strategies: pre- and post-internet| last1=Ringenberg| first1=Tatiana| last2=Seigfried-Spellar| first2=Kathryn| last3=Rayz| first3=Julia| last4=Rogers| first4=Marcus| journal=Child Abuse & Neglect| volume=123| date=January 2022 | issue=2| pages=228–230|pmc=105392| doi=10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105392| pmid=9527764}}</ref>

In 2008, a BBC report stated that "grooming" had taken on a pejorative meaning; no longer associated with animal care or mentoring, it had become associated with pedophiles and pedophilia.<ref name="BBC2008"/> This caused outrage when the term "groomed" was used to describe the behavior of someone who had obtained leaked documents from a civil servant.<ref name="BBC2008"/> The news report mentioned other uses of the term "groom" that also had negative connotation, such as "groomed for terrorism" or "groomed to become suicide bombers".<ref name="BBC2008"/>

A 2022 report by the Christian Monitor, reported that the word "grooming" was now seen as "sinister".<ref name="Mohr2022"/> Instead of meaning "to prepare as a political candidate&nbsp;... to prepare or coach for a career", the term had shifted in public discourse to mean "to befriend or influence (a child), now esp. via the internet, in preparation for future sexual abuse".<ref name="Mohr2022"/>

==Patterns==
===Non-violent offenders===

To establish a good relationship with a child and the child's family, child groomers might do several things: They might try to gain the child's or parents' trust by befriending them, with the goal of easy access to the child.<ref name="Sanderson">{{cite book |author=Christiane Sanderson|title=Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=1843103354 |year=2006|page=30|quote=A significant aspect of the grooming process is that the abuser also grooms the child's parents. The abuser dupes the parents into believing that he or she is a trusted adult into whose care they can entrust their child.|access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hpq-SvwKtkUC&pg=PA30}}</ref><ref name="O'Donnell">{{cite book |author=Ian O'Donnell |author2=Claire Milner |title=Child Pornography: Crime, Computers and Society |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1135846282 |year=2012 |page=59 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G2sQBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA59}}</ref><ref name="Moore">{{cite book |author=Robert Moore |title=Cybercrime: Investigating High-Technology Computer Crime |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1317522973 |year=2014 |page=86|access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fyqgBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA86}}</ref> A trusting relationship with the family means the child's parents are less likely to believe potential accusations.<ref name="Sanderson"/> Child groomers might look for [[Opportunism|opportunities]] to have time alone with the child, which can be done by offering to babysit; the groomers may also invite the child for sleepovers, for opportunistic bed sharing.<ref name="Sanderson 2">{{cite book |author=Christiane Sanderson |title=The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=184310248X |year=2004|page=189|access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ut4PBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA189}}</ref> They might give gifts or money to the child in exchange for sexual contact, or for no apparent reason.<ref name="Sanderson 2"/><ref name="Sanderson 3">{{cite book|author=Christiane Sanderson|title=The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse|publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=184310248X |year=2004|pages=237–238|access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ut4PBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA237}}</ref> Commonly, they show pornography to the child, or talk about sexual topics with the child, hoping to make it easy for the child to accept such acts, thus [[Normalization (sociology)|normalizing]] the behavior.<ref name="Gillespie">{{cite book|author=Alisdair A. Gillespie|title=Child Pornography: Law and Policy|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1136733826|year=2012|pages=108–109|access-date=April 6, 2016|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uL2sAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA108}}</ref><ref name="Levenson">{{cite book|author=Jill S. Levenson|author2=John W. Morin|title=Treating Nonoffending Parents in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: Connections for Family Safety|publisher=[[SAGE Publications]]|isbn=0761921923|year=2001|page=63|access-date=April 6, 2016|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CjE_-KmQiIC&pg=PA63}}</ref><ref name="Ferraro">{{cite book|author=Monique Mattei Ferraro|author2=Eoghan Casey|author3=Michael McGrath|author4=Michael McGrath|title=Investigating Child Exploitation and Pornography: The Internet, the Law and Forensic Science|publisher=[[Academic Press]]|isbn=0121631052|year=2005|page=159|access-date=April 6, 2016|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtjzJhcAAGYC&pg=PA159}}</ref> They may also engage in hugging, kissing, or other physical contact, even when the child does not want it.<ref name="Sanderson 2"/><ref name="Leberg">{{cite book|author=Eric Leberg|title=Understanding Child Molesters: Taking Charge |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |isbn=0761901876 |year=1997 |page=35 |access-date=April 6, 2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_DOZTv-l2l8C&pg=PA35}}</ref>

When grooming techniques are successful, the resulting compliance of the child can be mis-interpreted as consent; and the child treated as if they were not a victim of crime.<ref name="Lanning2018" /> When the behavior is considered criminal, it can still be perceived as a lesser offense.<ref name="Lanning2018" />

Some offenders prefer sexual gratification from less obvious types of behaviors, and grooming behaviors in and of themselves are the goal as they provide a chance to engage in a [[paraphilia]].<ref name="Lanning2018" />

Signs that characterize child groomers include: a person who tries to communicate with a child online or in person in secret, outside the knowledge of the child's parents or guardians;<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=What Are the Warning Signs of Grooming a Child for Sexual Abuse? |url=https://camlawllp.com/dallas-sexual-assault-victim-lawyer/what-are-the-warning-signs-of-grooming-a-child-for-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP |language=en-US}}</ref> a person who attempts to isolate a child from their friends or family, or who discourages the child from spending time with others;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grooming and Red Flag Behaviors |url=https://www.d2l.org/child-grooming-signs-behavior-awareness/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Darkness to Light |language=en-US}}</ref> or a person who asks a child to keep secrets or who makes the child feel like they are special or important in a way that is inappropriate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grooming: Knowing the Signs |url=https://centerforchildprotection.org/grooming-knowing-the-signs-2/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Centre for child protection|date=12 September 2019 }}</ref>

===Online offenders===
Sexual grooming of children also occurs on the Internet. Some abusers (sometimes posing as children themselves) chat with children online and make arrangements to meet with them in person. Online grooming of minors is most prevalent in relation to the 13–17 age group (99% of cases), and particularly 13–14 (48%). The majority of targeted children are girls, and most victimization occurs with mobile-phone support. Children and teenagers who are highly curious and high-sensation-seeking are at higher risk than others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/Content/Childnet/Safer-Internet-Centre/downloads/Research_Highlights/Munro_OnlinevulnerabilityReporttoDFE-Final-October2011.pdf |title=The protection of children online: a brief scoping review to identify vulnerable groups|last=Munro|first=Emily R.|publisher=Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre |date=August 2011 |access-date=2013-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526151430/http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/Content/Childnet/Safer-Internet-Centre/downloads/Research_Highlights/Munro_OnlinevulnerabilityReporttoDFE-Final-October2011.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2012}}</ref>

[[Facebook]] has been involved in controversy as to whether it takes enough precautions against the sexual grooming of children. [[Jim Gamble]], leader of the [[Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre]] (CEOP) in the UK, said in 2010 that his office had received 292 complaints about Facebook users in 2009 but that none of the complaints had come directly from Facebook. A spokesman for Facebook responded to complaints by meeting CEOP directly in person, and said that they take safety issues "very seriously".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7567922/Complaints-about-grooming-and-bullying-on-Facebook-quadruple.html |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Richard |last=Edwards |title=Complaints about grooming and bullying on Facebook quadruple |date=9 April 2010}}</ref> In 2003, [[MSN]] implemented [[chat room]] restrictions to help protect children from adults seeking sexual conversations with them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/10/14/microsoft.chat/index.html|title=MSN begins closing its chatrooms|date=Oct 15, 2003|work=CNN.com|access-date=Jan 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2005, [[Yahoo!]] chat rooms were investigated by the [[New York (state)|New York State]] attorney general's office for allowing users to create rooms whose names suggested they were being used for this purpose; that October, Yahoo! agreed to "implement policies and procedures designed to ensure" that such rooms would not be allowed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-shuts-pedophilia-themed-chat-rooms/|title=Yahoo shuts pedophilia-themed chat rooms|date=Nov 11, 2005|work=Cnet.com|access-date=Jan 21, 2018}}</ref> Computer programs have been developed to analyse chat rooms and other [[instant messaging]] logs for suspicious activity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6265494.stm |title=Technology &#124; The 'anti-child grooming' website |work=BBC News |date=3 July 2007|access-date=22 October 2013}}</ref> As this can be prevented not only on platform level but also on the point of entry, it is recommended that parents establish safe environments for their children to use the Internet, with reduced risk of encountering cyber grooming individuals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techacute.com/what-is-cyber-grooming/ |title=What Is Cyber Grooming and How to Protect Children? |newspaper=TechAcute |date=23 March 2020|access-date=14 April 2020|last1=Bennett |first1=Daniel }}</ref>

Pedophiles and predators<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-07/predators-using-internet-to-direct-live-online-sex-abuse/7819150|title=Australian cyber sex trafficking 'most dark and evil crime we are seeing'|date=September 7, 2016|website=ABC News}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated17>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-trafficking-crime/former-uk-army-officer-jailed-for-online-child-sex-abuse-idUSKCN1SS2BO|title=Former UK army officer jailed for online child sex abuse|date=May 22, 2019|website=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/cheap-tech-widespread-internet-access-fuel-rise-cybersex-trafficking-n886886|title=Cheap tech and widespread Internet access fuel rise in cybersex trafficking|date=June 30, 2018|website=NBC News}}</ref> use online grooming to carry out [[cybersex trafficking]] crimes. After the pedophile gains the trust from a local cybersex trafficker, often a parent or neighbor of the victim, the online sexual exploitation will take place.<ref name="channelnewsasia.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/poverty-pushes-some-kids-towards-paid-sex-abuse-philippines-10839702|title='We didn't have much to eat': Poverty pushes some kids towards paid sex abuse in the Philippines|date=July 9, 2019|website=CNA}}</ref>

Suspected offenders have used the so-called "[[fantasy defense]]", the argument that they were only expressing fantasies and not plans of future behavior, to defend actions such as online communication.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-fantasy-defense/|title=The Fantasy Defense|date=May 24, 2000|work=CBS Evening News|access-date=Jan 21, 2018}}</ref> In the US, case law draws a distinction between those two and some people accused of "grooming" have successfully used this defense.<ref name=aic>{{cite web |url=https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/rpp103.pdf |title=Online child grooming |publisher=[[Australian Institute of Criminology]] |access-date=2023-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126035614/http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/3/C/1/%7B3C162CF7-94B1-4203-8C57-79F827168DD8%7Drpp103.pdf |archive-date=2014-01-26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the US, an online privacy law, [[Children's Online Privacy Protection Act]], has been misattributed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cyber.harvard.edu/publications/2010/COPPA_Implemented_Is_Misinterpreted_by_Public|title=How the COPPA, as Implemented, Is Misinterpreted by the Public: A Research Perspective &#124; Berkman Klein Center|date=June 12, 2018|website=cyber.harvard.edu}}</ref> as a measure to prevent online child grooming and protect children from child predators.<ref>{{cite web|title=COMPLYING WITH COPPA: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS|date=20 July 2020 |url=https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions-0}}</ref>

===Religious settings===
{{Further|Religious abuse}}
Some characteristics of some religions can facilitate sexual grooming, including [[religious text]]s which justify sexual grooming, [[deference]] towards religious authority, unquestioned faith in persons with religious authority, [[spirituality|spiritual]] punishments, power, patriarchy and [[obedience]].<ref name="n144">{{cite journal | last=Raine | first=Susan | last2=Kent | first2=Stephen A. | title=The grooming of children for sexual abuse in religious settings: Unique characteristics and select case studies | journal=Aggression and Violent Behavior | volume=48 | date=2019 | doi=10.1016/j.avb.2019.08.017 | pages=180–189}}</ref> Sexual grooming in religious setting can be within some religious institutions or outside of religious institutions in case of religious rhetoric.<ref name="n144"/> [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] found evidence for sexual grooming in religious settings for 38 groups.<ref name=sep21report>{{cite web |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/document/child-protection-religious-organisations-and-settings-investigation-report-september-2021 |title=Child protection in religious organisations and settings - Investigation Report|website=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse|author= |date=2 September 2021}}</ref> Examples of sexual grooming in religious settings include [[Catholic Church sexual abuse cases]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses' handling of child sexual abuse]], [[Rochdale child sex abuse ring]], [[Adass Israel School sex abuse scandal]] and [[Child marriage#Religious norms and laws|religious child marriage]].

==Impact on victims==

Grooming has devastating impacts on victims, damaging their sense of self, eroding their ability to trust others, and severely impacting mental health. Children who are groomed may feel they are to blame for their abuse, and have difficulty placing blame on the perpetrator.<ref name="Kate2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.pandys.org/articles/sexualabusegrooming.html|title=Child Sexual Abuse and the "Grooming" Process|access-date=2014-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218085038/http://www.pandys.org/articles/sexualabusegrooming.html|archive-date=2015-12-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> Survivors may perceive aspects of human connection as threat cues, and thus may find it difficult to fully engage mentally with simple positive interactions, such as affirmation or compliments.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Many grooming tactics involve isolating a victim through fostering distrust or otherwise sabotaging other close relationships. This directly weakens the potential support network to process traumatic experiences, increasing the risk of long-term psychological ramifications. Victims can be left having been both isolated from existing social connections, and finding it difficult to form new ones.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Criminal offences==
===General===
{{see also|Laws regarding child sexual abuse}}
In its report ''Protection of Children Against Abuse Through New Technologies'', the [[Council of Europe]] [[Budapest Convention on Cybercrime|Cybercrime Convention]] Committee addressed the emerging issues of violence against children through the use of new technologies (the issue of [[child pornography]] on the [[Internet]] is already covered by Article 9 Convention) with particular reference to grooming both through the internet and by [[mobile telephone]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/Treaties/Html/185.htm |title=Council of Europe - ETS No. 185 - Convention on Cybercrime |publisher=Conventions.coe.int |access-date=2013-10-22}}</ref>

Some nations have already criminalized grooming in their national legislation. Analysis of these laws suggests some may be redundant with existing legislation and/or practices.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Staksrud|first=E.|title=Online grooming legislation : Knee-jerk regulation?|journal=European Journal of Communication|year=2013|volume=28|issue=2|page=152|doi=10.1177/0267323112471304|s2cid=144882114}}</ref>

===Australia===
[[Australia]]n Criminal Code Act 1995 section 474.26 and 474.27 prohibits the use of a "carrier service" to communicate with the intent to procure a person under the age of 16, or expose such a person to any indecent matter for grooming. The various states and territories have similar laws, some of which use a different ages (for example the victim only has to be under 16 in Queensland). Such laws across Australia were recently{{when|date=November 2022}} strengthened in the wake of the [[murder of Carly Ryan]].

===Canada===
In [[Canada]], [[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]] section 172.1 makes it an offence to communicate with a child through a computer system to commit a sexual offence (termed "luring a child").<ref>{{cite web | url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-40.html#s-172.1 | title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Criminal Code | date=16 January 2022 }}</ref>

===Costa Rica===
In [[Costa Rica]], since April 2013, the Criminal Code section 167 bis, makes it an offence to seduce a child by electronic means. With penalties from one to 3 years of imprisonment for a person that, by any means attempts to establish an erotic or sexual communication with a child under 15 years old.

===Germany===
In [[Germany]], under § 176 of the [[Strafgesetzbuch|Strafgesetzbuch (Criminal Code)]] it is a criminal offence to entice a child (below the age of 14) into sexual actions or to use telecommunications to try to entice them into sexual actions or child pornography.<ref>{{cite web |title=Strafgesetzbuch § 176 |url=https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__176.html |language=de |access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref> In January 2020, the law was extended to include cases of attempted cyber grooming in which perpetrators "groomed" investigators or parents, believing them to be a child.<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: Online child abuse investigators to get more powers |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-online-child-abuse-investigators-to-get-more-powers/a-52037583 |website=dw.com |access-date=18 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

===Japan===
In 2023, Japan adopted a new crime law that establishes sexual grooming, [[voyeurism]], and asking for sexual images of children under the age of 16 as crimes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://greennetwork.asia/news/new-bills-redefine-rape-and-raise-japans-age-of-consent/#:~:text=The%20new%20sex%20crime%20law,give%20consent%20within%20those%20situations |title=New Bills Redefine Rape and Raise Japan’s Age of Consent |author=Kresentia Madina |date=July 6, 2023 |website=Green Network Asia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216051229/https://greennetwork.asia/news/new-bills-redefine-rape-and-raise-japans-age-of-consent/ |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/access-asia/20230616-japan-new-legislation-redefines-rape-raises-age-of-consent|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110142223/https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/access-asia/20230616-japan-new-legislation-redefines-rape-raises-age-of-consent|url-status=dead|title=Access Asia - Japan: New legislation redefines rape, raises age of consent|date=June 16, 2023|archivedate=November 10, 2023|website=France 24}}</ref>

===Netherlands===
On 1 January 2010, section 248e was added to the [[Dutch Criminal Code]] making it an offence to arrange online or by telephone a meeting with someone he knows or reasonably should assume to be a child under 16, with the intent of sexually abusing the child, as soon as any preparation for this meeting is made. The maximum punishment is 2 years of imprisonment or a fine of the fourth category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/TweedeBoek/TitelXIV/Artikel248e/geldigheidsdatum_09-10-2013 |title=Wetboek van Strafrecht Artikel 248e |website=Overheid.nl |publisher=Rijksoverheid |language=nl |access-date=9 October 2013}}</ref>

=== New Zealand ===
The law in [[New Zealand]] states that it is a crime to meet up or intend to meet up to perform an unlawful sexual act with a person under 16 years. This is recorded in Section 131B of the Crimes Act 1961. Any person charged is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM329200.html|title=Crimes Act 1961 No 43 (as at 07 November 2015), Public Act 131B Meeting young person following sexual grooming, etc – New Zealand Legislation|website=www.legislation.govt.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=2017-02-01}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Day 293 - West Midlands Police - Child Online Safeguarding Team (8102352763).jpg|thumb|Detective Inspector Kay Wallace surrounded by computers, mobile phones and digital storage devices seized from the homes of suspected [[pedophile]]s. Online grooming of children via [[chat room]]s and [[webcam]]s is an area COST team officers are encountering more and more.]]
In [[England and Wales]], sections 14 and 15 of the [[Sexual Offences Act 2003]] make it an offence to arrange a meeting with a child under 16, for oneself or someone else, with the intent of sexually abusing the child. The meeting itself is also an offence in its own right. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and automatic barring of the offender from working with children or vulnerable adults.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30042--b.htm#15 |title=Legislation.gov.uk |publisher=Legislation.hmso.gov.uk |date=2013-10-16 |access-date=2013-10-22 |archive-date=2005-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508015056/http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30042--b.htm#15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005]] introduced a similar provision for [[Scotland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/20050009.htm |title=Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 |publisher=Opsi.gov.uk |date=2011-05-26 |access-date=2013-10-22}}</ref>

Thus, a crime may be committed even without the actual meeting taking place and without the child being involved in the meeting (for example, if a police officer has taken over the contact and pretends to be that child). In ''R v T'' (2005) EWCA Crim 2681, the appellant, aged 43, had pretended to befriend a nine-year-old girl but had done very little with her before she became suspicious and reported his approaches. He had many previous convictions (including one for [[rape]]) and was described as a "relentless, predatory [[pedophilia|pedophile]]". The [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Court of Appeal]] upheld a [[sentence (law)|sentence]] of eight years' imprisonment with an extended license period of two years.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

===United States===
{{see also|Child sexual abuse laws in the United States}}

In the [[United States]], {{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|2422|b}} makes it a federal offence to use the mail, interstate commerce, etc. to entice a minor to [[sex crime|sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offence]]. {{UnitedStatesCode|18|2425}} makes it a federal offence to transmit information about a person below the age of 16 for this purpose.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Some states have additional statutes covering seducing a child online, such as the [[Florida]] law that makes "Use of a Computer to Seduce a Child" a [[felony]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0800-0899/0847/Sections/0847.0135.html |title=Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine |publisher=Leg.state.fl.us |access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 {{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|2252A|a|6}} has provisions to prevent the distribution of pornography to children for the purpose of persuading them to engage in illegal activity.<ref name="Groos2009"/> It was first enforced federally against Alabamian Jerry Alan Penton in 2009. Penton received 20 years in prison for that action coupled with another 20 for his distribution and possession of child pornography.<ref name="Groos2009">{{cite web|last=Groos |first=Caleb |url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2009/07/first-grooming-child-porn-sentence-40-years.html |title=First 'Grooming' Child Porn Sentence: 40 Years – Sentencing – FindLaw Blotter |publisher=Blogs.findlaw.com |date=16 July 2009 |access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Abusive power and control]]
* [[Children's rights]]
* [[Lolita]]
* [[Online predator]]
* [[Sexualization in child beauty pageants]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Online Child Grooming: A Literature Review on the Misuse of Social Networking Sites for Grooming Children for Sexual Offences|publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology|author=Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo|year=2009|isbn=9781921185861}}
* {{Cite web |title=Child sexual exploitation and grooming |url=https://www.education.vic.gov.au:443/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/expolitationgrooming.aspx |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.education.vic.gov.au |language=en}}

==External links==
* [http://www.iwf.org.uk Internet Watch Foundation]
* [http://www.vachss.com/guest_dispatches/grooming.html Grooming Children for Sexual Molestation], written by Gregory M. Weber, the Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin who specializes in the prosecution of crimes committed against children.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718185333/http://prvok.upol.cz/index.php/ke-staeni/doc_download/11-cyber-grooming-danger-of-cyberspace-english Cyber Grooming – danger of cyberspace, written by Kamil Kopecký, the professor at Palacký University Olomouc (director of Centre PRVoK)]

{{Psychological manipulation}}
{{Abuse}}
{{Sexual ethics}}
{{Pedophilia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Child Grooming}}
[[Category:Child grooming| ]]
[[Category:Child abuse]]
[[Category:Child sexual abuse]]
[[Category:Psychological manipulation]]
[[Category:Pedophilia]]