Costa Rica’s National Children’s Trust, known as PANI, reported two more TikTok creators to prosecutors yesterday over alleged grooming cases, widening a fast-moving investigation that has put several Costa Rican digital personalities under scrutiny in the span of a week. The latest complaints bring the total to four cases involving content creators referred by PANI to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in recent days.
The two newest cases involve men identified by the surnames Álvarez and Ocón. It was reported that one of them has about 290,000 followers and the other about 955,000. Authorities said the reports include conversations of a sexual nature with minors and, in at least one case, an alleged request that the underage person not tell anyone about the communication because she was a minor.
The new complaints follow two earlier cases filed against influencers identified by the surnames Blanco and Gómez. One of those cases involved content creator Esteban Gómez, known online as Steve Diet. Costa Rican media reported that PANI filed that complaint on Monday before the specialized prosecution office for violence against children and adolescents.
Grooming refers to conduct in which an adult builds trust with a child or teenager online through social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, or other digital channels with the aim of obtaining sexual images, arranging a meeting, or facilitating abuse. In Costa Rica, the conduct is treated under the criminal framework for seduction or meetings with minors by electronic means.
Costa Rica criminalized grooming since 2013, and Law No. 10020, signed in 2021, strengthened the legal framework to prevent, combat, and punish the offense. PANI says the crime can carry penalties of up to five years in prison.
The sudden cluster of cases has unfolded alongside growing social media pressure and public discussion in Costa Rica about online safety for minors. PANI said the recent wave of reports may reflect that more girls feel empowered to speak out about conduct they experienced earlier, while also warning that the visible cases are unlikely to be the only ones.
Costa Rican authorities are urging families and minors to report suspicious online contact and preserve evidence such as screenshots and messages. PANI directs reports through its confidential 1147 hotline and WhatsApp number 8989-1147, while previous guidance has also urged victims or families to contact emergency services or judicial authorities when needed.
