How Can Bulgarian Society Combat Online Crimes Against Children?

Sofia, May 23 (NationPress) The Bulgarian Justice Minister, Georgi Georgiev, has initiated a nationwide effort to address the alarming rise of online crimes targeting children. A recent report indicated that there were 70,000 alerts concerning such crimes in 2024 alone.

During a roundtable focused on safeguarding children from online violence, Georgiev highlighted the significant challenge these crimes pose, urging society to actively participate in the solution.

Referring to findings from the Bulgarian Safer Internet Center (SIC), which has been instrumental in forwarding these issues to the appropriate authorities, Georgiev stated, "The magnitude of this problem is far greater than we might assume."

He stressed the need for greater public awareness since existing laws under the penal code do not adequately address the issue, emphasizing that prevention is crucial, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"We must discuss the roles of families, schools, and communities, as the justice system only acts once an antisocial act has occurred," he noted.

Furthermore, he called for a robust and prompt response from law enforcement, as the public anticipates action following alerts.

Vladimir Dimitrov, head of the Cybercrime Directorate at Bulgaria's General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, who was also present at the SIC-organized roundtable, revealed that the country's specialized unit for tackling online crimes against children has doubled its workforce in the past two years.

This unit employs advanced software to track Bulgarian IP addresses engaged in the distribution of child sexual exploitation materials. Dimitrov mentioned that his colleagues frequently travel across Bulgaria to apprehend individuals involved in downloading and distributing these materials, although it remains challenging to catch every offender.

He further critiqued the current regulatory framework regarding antisocial behavior and adolescent public order violations as outdated and ineffective.

"To address this, I have established a working group comprising representatives from the judiciary, prosecution services, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, academia, and NGOs. This group is tasked with analyzing statistical data, best practices from EU member states, and reviewing court and commission practices related to juvenile delinquency to propose a modernized juvenile justice model that encompasses both punitive and rehabilitative measures," said Georgiev.