The Chamber of Deputies adopted the criminal justice reform that strengthens the protection of children against online sexual exploitation

The Chamber of Deputies adopted on Wednesday, as the decision-making body, an amendment to Article 374 of the Criminal Code through a reform aimed at strengthening the protection of children against online sexual exploitation. The law is to be sent to the President of Romania for promulgation, and the new provisions will enter into force after publication in the Official Gazette.

The bill replaces the term “child pornography” with “materials containing sexual abuse of minors,” highlighting the criminal nature of the acts and children’s status as victims. The production, promotion, procurement, possession, storage, distribution and making available of such materials are regulated more clearly.

Production will be punishable by 5 to 12 years in prison, promotion or exposure by 3 to 10 years, and procurement, possession, storage, distribution or making available by 2 to 7 years. Penalties for accessing the materials will increase from 1–3 years to 1–5 years, while those for participating in performances of this type will rise from 1–5 years to 2–7 years.

The law explicitly criminalizes grooming and includes materials generated or manipulated with the help of artificial intelligence. Measures concerning confiscation, reporting obligations and criminal liability are also strengthened.

The parliamentary committee states that the reform seeks to punish exploiters, not children, and to avoid criminalizing private, consensual and non-exploitative situations between adolescents close in age. Consultations with specialists in justice, law enforcement and victim protection formed the basis of the new clarifications.