The use of information and telecommunication networks in committing crimes against minors

Modern digital development is leading to a transformation of crime, which is expressed in an increase in crimes against minors using information and telecommunications networks, which become the means of engaging in illegal activities and spreading dangerous content. Minors are a vulnerable group due to their age characteristics and high activity in the digital environment, which requires a comprehensive analysis of legal regulation and law enforcement practice. The relevance of the study is due to legislative gaps, complexity in qualifying such crimes and the need to develop effective preventive measures. The purpose of the study is to identify the specifics of committing crimes against minors using information and telecommunication networks, analyze existing legal norms and practices of their application, as well as to develop proposals for improving legislation in this area. Materials and methods. The research was based on regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, materials of judicial practice, and scientific publications in the field of criminal law, criminology and cyber law. The following methods of scientific cognition were used in the study: the dogmatic method, the comparative legal method, the analysis of judicial practice, statistical and content analysis, synthesis and generalization. Results. Information and telecommunication networks are considered as an object of legal regulation and a means of committing crimes against minors. The conceptual framework used in Russian and foreign legislation is analyzed, with an emphasis on the specifics of qualifying crimes committed involving the use of information and telecommunication networks. The key problems of modern criminal law doctrine and law enforcement practice were identified: anonymity of intruders, difficulty of proving the subjective side of crimes and insufficient technical equipment of investigative authorities. The classification of crimes using information and telecommunication networks according to the object of encroachment is systematized: those against life and health, sexual integrity, morality and social adaptation of minors. Special attention is paid to the problems of legal regulation of actions aimed at driving to suicide, involvement in illegal activities and dissemination of dangerous content. The difficulties of distinguishing such crimes and the need to unify legislative formulations in order to enhance the effectiveness of legal impact are noted. Proposals were formulated to improve investigative and operational activities, including introduction of standards for the analysis of digital evidence, creation of specialized units and staff training. The need for media literacy and digital security among minors is outlined as preventive measures. Conclusions. Information and telecommunication networks act as a remote tool for psychological influencing the minors, manipulating them, involving them in illegal activities and distributing dangerous content. Key problems in investigating such crimes include the difficulty of identifying anonymous individuals, as well as technical limitations of monitoring closed groups and channels, especially in messengers and the darknet. The difficulties in qualifying and proving such crimes are due to the lack of uniform formulations and difficulties in establishing subjective guilt. Digital footprints are of key importance in investigating these crimes, the effective use of which requires improvement of both technical and legal mechanisms. It is necessary to unify legislative norms, to expand the list of crimes, taking into account information and telecommunications networks as a qualifying factor, as well as to create specialized investigative units, which will increase the effectiveness of investigating and suppressing crimes committed against minors in the digital environment. In addition, preventive work aimed at forming media literacy and digital safety of minors should be intensified.