New legislation in Austria

Austria has introduced new legislation against grooming of children. § 208a, Austrian Criminal Law, is criminalizing the initiating of sexual contacts with underage children since 1 January 2012.

Any person, who intends to commit the crime of severe sexual abuse of a child, and is proposing or arranges a physical meeting with a child below the age of consent (14years) by means of Telecommunication, computer or other forms of deception and is setting first steps to make this meeting happen, has to be punished with a term of imprisonment up to two years.

However, the person is not to be punished if he/she voluntarily abstains from his/her intention.