Digital Vulnerability and Legal Protection of Children

The internet has facilitated a global pandemic of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), posing deep challenges to law and policy. This chapter provides a combined assessment of the international, legal, and technical responses to this crisis. It looks at the foundation international legal regimes, such as UN conventions and regional instruments like the Lanzarote Convention, which impose requirements on states to criminalize and cooperate across borders. The discussion is based on comparative national case studies of the United States, United Kingdom, and India, revealing varied but convergent legal reaction. Moreover, the chapter also critically examines technological solutions like hash-matching and AI and multi-stakeholder alliances facilitating detection and enforcement. Finally, it underlines the stark dichotomy between safeguarding children and safeguarding fundamental rights, most notably in the areas of encryption and abuse content generated by AI, calling for a proportionate, child-focused response to eliminate this evil harm.