crime
Sexting among young people: Nancy Faeser wants to defuse sex criminal law
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser wants investigative authorities to “give more scope” to “combat the really bad crimes”
© Paul Zinken/dpa
If young people send each other naked pictures – for example in the case of so-called sexting – this can be regarded as the dissemination of child pornographic content. Faeser thinks: That has to change.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser has spoken out in favor of relaxing sexual criminal law. “An increase in penalties has meant that young people are threatened with severe penalties if they exchange nude photos with each other,” said the SPD politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Here it is more important to create an awareness of the risks when sharing the most private things than to proceed with harsh criminal sanctions.”
Nancy Faeser argues with priorities
It’s also about priorities, said Faeser. “Then the investigative authorities would have more scope to fight the really bad deeds,” said the minister. The federal and state justice ministers are currently negotiating a correction.
Possessing and distributing child pornography has been a felony with a minimum sentence of one year since 2021. However, the more stringent paragraph 184b of the Criminal Code often affects young people themselves – for example in the case of so-called sexting, the digital exchange of sexual photos and videos.
Figures from the Federal Ministry of the Interior
Violence, drugs, theft: These are Germany’s most dangerous train stations
If boys and girls under the age of 14 record themselves having sex or masturbating, the recordings are considered child pornography, the possession of which is punishable as a crime once they have reached the age of criminal responsibility.