Safeguarding childhood in the digital age: Legal and social responses to online child exploitation in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: As Sri Lanka’s digital growth continues to increase at a rapid rate, the online child exploitation threat compounds in the form of new dangers and opportunities. Legislative frameworks and preventive measures, however, the effectiveness of deliberate interventions enhancing child online safety is still not certain. This study will attempt to discuss legal interventions and the response from society towards online child exploitation in Sri Lanka. It measures the application of protective strategies, the effectiveness of their application, and the gaps between policy and practice.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used for comparative case study analysis. The data were sourced from primary sources of national child protection laws and secondary sources such as UNICEF reports, scholarly articles, and briefings of INTERPOL. The study used content analysis and process tracing methods to measure the legal enforcement processes, institutional interactions, and social ramifications of digital threats to children.

Results: The results point to the gap between prevailing laws and enforceability capacity. Despite the legal existence of protection against online abuse, there are notable obstacles which include a lack of training for authorities, low public awareness, and technological constraints. Parents complained about a challenge in tracking children’s internet activities, given the prevalence of social media platforms. From the case analyses, it was possible to realize how the enforcement agencies find it difficult to detect and prosecute cyberbullying, grooming, and content exploitation offenders. Public watchdogs raised concerns about digital surveillance and privacy in reaction to the new cybersecurity regulation.

Conclusions: Even though there are legal mechanisms to protect children online in Sri Lanka, the operational deficiencies limit the impact in Sri Lanka. Greater collaboration between legal, technical, and community experts is needed to promote effective child digital safety. Further investigation into enforcement practices and technological droughts is needed to guide future preventive policies.