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International Police Operation
Understanding the Dangers of Child Porn on the Dark Web
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines and requires special software, such as Tor, to access. Unfortunately, this hidden side of the internet harbors many illegal activities, including child porn.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) analyzed the site’s content, including more than 250,000 unique videos, according to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice said two users of the site died by suicide after the execution of search warrants. A nine-count indictment says 337 people in 24 U.S. states and 11 countries, including eight individuals in the Washington, D.C., area, were arrested and charged with operating or using the site. Welcome To Video’s operator, a South Korean named Jong Woo Son, and 337 users in 12 different countries, have been charged so far, authorities said. Matthew Falder was sentenced to 25 years in jail in 2017 after admitting 137 counts of online abuse, including the encouragement of child rape and even the abuse of a baby. “Welcome to Video” operated on the so-called “dark web”, which can only be accessed by special software and is widely used to traffic various illegal content and products.
What is Child Pornography on the Dark Web?
Child porn refers to any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. On the dark web, these images and videos are often traded and sold in secrecy, making it one of the most troubling aspects of online crime.
The Appeal of the Dark Web for Criminals
Several factors contribute to the prevalence of child porn on the dark web:
The growing availability of smartphones with ever better cameras also blurred the distinction between consumers and producers, further increasing the amount of CSAM circulating. At present, darknet CSAM forums are at the heart of a global online community that serves the interests of hundreds of thousands of individuals with a sexual interest in children (Europol 2021). In most cases, Google will not report suspicious searches unless circumstances call for it. While Google isn’t required to actively monitor illegal content, it may, however, report crimes such as child pornography. Not to mention, law enforcement authorities can always request a person’s search data. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) estimates over 26 million sexual abuse images and videos were received by their analysts in 2015 alone.
VPNs let you mask your location and prevent online breadcrumbs from leading back to you. This stops online criminals from eavesdropping on your Wi-Fi connection and intercepting any data you might be sending or receiving. The names of dark web pages are unusual, too, and can make it difficult to find them. Instead of site names that are easy to memorize, such as CNN.com or Google.com, Tor sites are made up of a random series of numbers and letters. For instance, the website of the Torch dark web browser is cnkj6nippubgycuj.onion, while the Tor website for DuckDuckGo is 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion.
- Anonymity: The use of encryption and specific browsers allows users to hide their identities.
- Secrecy: Transactions and communications are hidden from law enforcement.
- Market Demand: There is an unsettling demand for such content, which fuels its production and distribution.
“This Administration will not allow child predators to use lawless online spaces as a shield. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the Department of Justice remains firmly committed to working closely with our partners in South Korea and around the world to rescue child victims and bring to justice the perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes,” he added. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. One website on the dark web was shown to have 200,000 registered users and 100,000 individuals had accessed the site in just 12 days. Hillman noted that Michael Chapman received the 10-year sentence because of his long history of child sex crimes, and said that he, along with probation staff, believed that Chamberlin would never again appear in court for a similar offense. Chamberlin himself was abused, physically and sexually, Bonilla-Argudo wrote, and has struggled with mental health issues.
If something is illegal outside of the dark web, it will be illegal in this hidden section of the internet, too. It still boggles the mind that there was sign off for sites like AshleyMadison or some illegal site getting created online and that those that concocted the sites thought they wouldn’t be a target. If that’s what the FBI did in fact use, it was not only an impressive feat – given that it was done with only one search warrant – but also a worrisome one from a legal standpoint, given that such a so-called “general warrant” is extraordinarily broad.
They may lure you in with tips and tricks to get started hacking, or some useful hacking tool. Then, they’ll use that to access your computer and steal information. In most cases, it’s not worth snooping around on the deep web, and certainly not the dark web. Or, after seizing the site, the agency could have redirected users to a spoofed version of it, minus the child pornography material. While it looks like several of those already charged will plead guilty to online child pornography crimes, one defense team has made the extraordinary step of arguing to have their client’s case thrown out completely.
We found 724 unique CSAM-related items listed during the 44-week period between March and December 20221, of which 704 unique items are from the Chinese Exchange Market and the remaining 20 from the cabyc market. Given that both markets are not CSAM-focused (i.e. there are other types of items listed), the results come from their “pornography” category. Search terms were chosen according to their presence in relevant literature.
The Consequences of Engaging with Child Porn on the Dark Web
Involvement with child porn on the dark web has serious repercussions, including:
- Legal Penalties: Possession, distribution, or production of child porn is a crime in many jurisdictions, often resulting in severe sentences.
- Psychological Impact: Consuming such content can lead to desensitization and normalization of exploitative attitudes towards minors.
- Victimization: Every image or video represents a child who has been exploited, contributing to their trauma and suffering.
- While these are tremendous benefits, they also present some enormous challenges.
- Hackers affiliated with the “hacktivist” collective Anonymous have brought down Freedom Hosting II, the largest hosting provider on the dark web and host to a range of illegal activities, including child pornography.
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- Onion sites are hosted on a web server in the same way as ordinary sites, but you change web server configurations so that it only responds to your localhost.
Preventive Measures and Reporting
Combatting child porn on the dark web requires active participation from society. Here are some preventive measures:
- Education: Raise awareness about the dangers and consequences associated with child pornography.
- Support Services: Provide resources for victims of child exploitation.
- Reporting Mechanisms: Encourage individuals to report suspected illegal activities to law enforcement agencies.
FAQs About Child Porn on the Dark Web
Q: Is all content on the dark web illegal?
A: No, while the dark web hosts illegal activities, not all content is unlawful. However, it is notoriously difficult to navigate without encountering such material.
Q: How do authorities combat child pornography on the dark web?
A: Authorities use various methods, including undercover operations, technology to track transactions, and collaboration with international law enforcement agencies.
Q: Can I access the dark web safely?
A: While it’s possible to access the dark web safely, engaging with illegal content like child porn is not only dangerous but also illegal.
Understanding the issues surrounding child porn on the dark web is vital for both prevention and intervention. By recognizing the signs and advocating for change, society can work towards eliminating this grave threat to children.
