Types of Crime and Investigations

Child Sexual Abuse Material and Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Context of Travel and Tourism

Under Austrian law, possession of and deliberate access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the internet are punishable offences. CSAM includes images of sexual acts involving minors or images of genitals or pubic areas of minors. Images depicting abused children below the age of 14 are always illegal. The mere impression that a sexual act happened gives sufficient grounds for prosecution.

On 1 January 2012, Austria made "grooming" a criminal offence. It involves initiating sexual contacts with persons under the age of 14 through the internet and viewing sexual abuse material representing minors (live through a webcam). The fight against sexual abuse and exploitation of children is of great importance to Criminal Intelligence Service Austria.