Awareness
Commercial child abuse websites
Adults with a sexual interest in children are increasingly using the internet and emerging technology to share and view child sexual abuse images. One way in which these images are available is via commercial websites, where customers pay a subscription to access them. The images these websites make available show real children being sexually abused or sexually exploited, with individuals paying to either purchase or view these images.
The facilitators of commercial child abuse websites use a mixture of legitimate reputable money systems, as well as other payment systems that are not as well regulated to gain money.
Payments made online to purchase child abuse images are usually unsecured. There are a variety of payment systems used - some are internet-specific but there are also non-traditional payment systems that so called ‘customers’ prefer.
Why are organisations working together to combat the commercial element to child abuse images?
In 2007, seven countries hosted 97% of all commercial child abuse image websites. In 2008, according to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), ten countries accounted for 92%. So, whereas once it was possible, in effect, to list a small number of countries where this activity was concentrated, the picture now is that a greater range of countries are hosting a significant number of commercial child abuse sites.
That is why the European Financial Coalition was created – it aims to address the websites hosting child abuse material, as well as those individuals and networks behind them. Intelligence is continually gathered into the operators and facilitators of child abuse websites, subscription newsgroups and the financial behaviour of their customers, which means law enforcement and those with responsibility to protect children can work together in a co-ordinated fashion to disrupt and arrest those that aim to make money from the sexual abuse of children, and the individuals that purchase from them.
The EFC has been collating intelligence and information which will form the basis of a Strategic Assessment, due to be released later in the year. The assessment will include research and findings on commercial child sexual abuse websites, as well as potential disruption strategies that can be incorporated by law enforcement agencies around the world and the way forward for the EFC.