A evolução do direito penal frente às novas tecnologias: um estudo sobre os crimes virtuais de natureza sexual

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze the evolution of Criminal Law in relation to new technologies. To achieve this, it explains the technological revolution and its positive and negative effects on people's lives; addresses the development of criminal law in relation to new technologies; and discusses some virtual crimes of a sexual nature not addressed by the doctrinators. As methodology, it uses literature review in doctrines and legislation to help elucidate the delimited topic. It has been seen that while extortion is a very old crime, modern technologies have helped to improve it, which has made it possible for a number of sex crimes to be committed through the internet. Criminals steal money from their victims through a variety of methods, but hacking text messages and webcams increases their relentless efficiency for a very personal type of crime: sexual extortion, which is the threat of revealing intimate information about a victim if she does not pay the blackmailer with money or sexual favors. From the foregoing it is concluded that the law and, consequently, the legislation must evolve to closely monitor the social dynamics, otherwise it will become a dead letter, without applicability to concrete cases and without coercive force.